November became Movember for male staff at Icknield High School who grew moustaches for one month to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

The hairy-lipped colleagues at Luton's Riddy Lane school joined thousands of men taking part in The Prostate Cancer Charity's international Movember campaign.

More than a dozen determined teachers started clean shaven on November 1 and had the whole month to grow and groom a moustache - and become a walking billboard for men's health issues.

And it wasn't just the staff who tried to sprout some fuzz on their upper lip.

Deputy headteacher Simon Cooke said: "Many older students in school tried to join us as well, with limited success!"

The facial fungus was shaved off at the beginning of this week, as December dawned.

Mr Cooke said some people were thrilled to see December 1.

"I think teachers appreciated having an excuse not to shave every morning," he said. "The resistance came from their partners. I think partners paid a substantial amount to make sure they didn't linger longer than November.

Money is still coming in for the charity and the school hopes to have a grand total later this week.