STUDENTS have had a close shave to raise funds in memory of two inspirational teenagers.

Sophie McGorrigan, of Pershore High School, died in December after a year-long battle against a rare type of cancer that affected the area between the nose and brain. The school was struck by tragedy again when former pupil Ben Woodcock died in January after contracting meningitis while recovering from a brain tumour.

Pupils and friends of the 17-year-olds were so impressed with the treatment given at the Young Person's Unit at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital that they decided to raise money for the unit and the Teenage Cancer Trust by having their heads shaved.

Head of sixth form Rachel Coton said: "Ben and Sophie were incredibly close friends and Ben learnt a lot about how to deal with his illness from Sophie's approach.

"She was so positive and made the most of every day."

Mrs Coton said Ben, who left the school to study music technology at Worcester College of Techno-logy in 2005, was an extremely popular person.

"He was very close to all our hearts and was an incredibly bubbly person and fun-loving young man," she said. "He had a huge circle of friends and brought lots of smiles to everybody he knew."

She said Sophie was extremely talented and inspirational.

"She was an amazing artist," she said. "Sophie was an incredibly positive person who coped really bravely with her illness and lived a very full life."

Sunday's event, at Pershore's UK Barbers, was the latest in a host of fund-raising activities arranged by the students. Jake Saddington, Rob Laight, Jo Coupland, who are all aged 17, took part as well as Beth Spurr, Joe Davies, Lee Hill, Scott Hughes and Steve Osbourne, who are all 18. Matt Wright, aged 17, had his head shaved separately

Mrs Oaten said she was thrilled with the way the students had thrown themselves into fund-raising for the worthy causes.

"I am just so proud of them," she said. They have been inspired by Sophie and Ben not to be sad and morose about things and just think about what they can do in memory of them."

The students are hoping to raise about £1,000.