MOST of us have heard of The Hairy Bikers – but now a new rival looks set to emerge in Worcestershire in the form of the Hairy Chaplains.

Reverends David Southall, Guy Hewlett and David Ryan, the chaplaincy team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, are bristling with enthusiasm to take part in the upcoming Movember fund-raiser for the independent men’s health charity.

The trio will be growing moustaches throughout November and are throwing down the gauntlet for hospital colleagues to join them.

Rev Southall’s ‘Chaplain’s Challenge’ aims to encourage other men working for the trust to form their own fund-raising teams and see who can grow the best moustaches and – importantly – raise the most cash for charity.

“It’s just a bit of fun, but I am a competitive person and I don’t think the others have a chance to beat us,” he said.

“But seriously, it is a great opportunity to raise money for and promote men’s health issues. It is such a serious subject and men are not great at approaching the medical profession. Anything we can do to raise awareness and have conversations about it is great.”

Movember challenges men to grow a moustache for the 30 days of November, raising funds and awareness for prostate and testicular cancer and mental health.

The campaign has raised more than £275 million since it started in 2004 and last year more than a million people all over the world took part, raising £92 million.

Participants can sign up now and should be freshly shaven for Friday, November 1, when the moustache growing can begin in earnest.

To sign up for Movember, visit uk.movember.com.