There was stubble afoot in Havering last month as moustachioed males united to raise cash for charity.

During the month of “Movember”, fur of all colours and styles adorned the top lips of the borough’s men – and some of its women – as a part of a national campaign to put prostate cancer in the spotlight.

Among the hirsute fundraisers were 14 Royal Mail staff at the Crow Lane depot in Romford, who raised a stylish �4,260 – with the support of colleague Mina Dhugga.

“We had quite a few styles,” said Mina. “One guy went as far as colouring his, so that was quite outstanding.

“This is the first year they’ve taken part and they do intend to do it again. It feels like a bit of an anticlimax now they’ve shaved them off.”

Half the sum came from Royal Mail matching all donations, and other contributions came from friends, colleagues and the staff union.

“We were thinking if we could hit the �500 mark we’d be happy,” said Mina. “We didn’t expect to raise this much.”

Things also got a little hairy at the Barbers at Wyndham shop in Hornchurch, where staff members Tony Hopwood, Kiki Gonzales and Chris Goodey all grew impressive handlebar moustaches.

The shop also offered free trims and shaves for Movember participants throughout the month, to help raise awareness among customers.

“Chris has still got his,” revealed colleague Johnpaul Wyndham. “He won’t shave it off until his wife sponsors him.”

Meanwhile, Specsavers in South Street, Romford, saw a team of six “specshavers” net �600 – with half the sum coming directly from Specsavers and the other half from donations.

Store director Andrew Aiston said: ‘Staff normally come to work clean-shaven but we broke that habit this November.

“We set up a competition in-store to see who could grow the most unusual tache.”

In the end, the honour went to Lee Surridge’s blond effort.

Women didn’t miss out on the fun, however, with the shop raffling off a “Miss Movember” hamper, which was won by Susan Tomalin.

Donations will go to Prostrate Cancer UK, the Institute of Cancer Research and the Movember Foundation.