YOU may have noticed a strange increase in the amount of men sporting facial hair over the past month.

It is not because of the colder weather – it has all been part of ‘Movember’, a month-long event to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Across the county, men have been growing moustaches and beards to raise sponsorship money.

In Abingdon, 17 staff at IT company Sophos grew moustaches and beards in a variety of colours.

Organiser Pedro Pinto said: “It has been fantastic fun and we have raised about £2,500 for the charity, so it’s great.

“I went for quite a conservative moustache, but a few people have got full-on handlebar moustaches.

“Two guys even said the first people to sponsor them could choose the colour, so they’ve had pink and purple facial hair.”

Last week, Mr Pinto also organised an event at the Living Room in Oxford to raise money. Prizes including Champagne and tickets for venues in the city were awarded to people who had sponsored the Sophos team.

But Mr Pinto said although it had been a good talking-point at work, his girlfriend Rachel Dent wasn’t so keen.

He said: “Rachel has been very supportive, but she’s definitely not in love with the moustache.

“I think every single one of us will be shaving it off as soon as we can, as it’s not really a great look for us.

“But unfortunately, Rachel’s parents have sponsored me for another week, so mine will be staying on for a little while yet.”

For more information about the campaign, see uk.movember.com