AN ARMY of pink-haired Spartans continues to raise the battle cry for St Richard's Hospice, raising nearly £7,000 for the cherished charity.

The Spartans with their pink Mohican haircuts are gaining attention for the right reasons as they raise more and more cash for the hospice in Wildwood Drive, surpassing all expectations. They only started raising the money on November 1 and are not finished yet.

The Spartans, based at their barracks in the New Inn, Claines, want members of the public and those with connections to the hospice to get behind them for a big push for funds this Saturday (November 29) at the pub. The Voodoo Tash 4 Cash fundraiser takes place this Saturday from 8pm at the pub in Ombersley Road. A raffle on the night will be drawn at around 10pm with a chance to win a range of prizes, including champagne, a Land Rover experience, a Harley-Davidson experience, Worcester Racecourse tickets, spa vouchers, fishing gear, wine and whisky.

Keith Newby, landlord of the New Inn, who had to fend off accusations of a mid-life crisis when he sported his radical new look, along with the other Spartans, urged people to give as much as they could but said people had already shown great generosity, raising £6,750.

One of the Spartans, Andy Goodwin, was in Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester earlier this month and the man in the next bed gave him £20 on the spot when he asked him about his pink hair.

Mr Newby, who has had friends die at the hospice, said this was a measure of the high regard people had for St Richard's Hospice and the excellent work they had done in the community.

The 40-year-old landlord said: "This man was looking at losing a limb to diabetes and he turned around and donated £20. I think that's lovely. The generosity of people has been humbling when you consider it is just before Christmas and just after Children In Need. It's ace. For a pub the size of the New Inn it is phenomenal. We are very proud to be raising money for St Richard's."

Mr Newby hopes the Spartans can raise £14,000 for St Richard's by the end of the year. Nr Newby says the Spartans hope to keep the momentum going next year.