Llandrindod Wells Rugby Club’s players had their heads shaved on Saturday, raising more than £700 for the town’s first responders.

James Oakley was the first to go under the clippers, before the Mid Wales Cup quarter final clash with local rivals, Rhayader, with the rest of the volunteers facing the cut after the match.

Llandrindod First Responders is a small group of volunteers whose members attend life threatening 999 calls in their spare time on behalf of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

With Mid Wales being a rural area, the volunteers provide cover when local crews are tied up at other calls, and when dispatched are often first on scene to commence the lifesaving treatment to the patient before the paramedic crew arrives.

The volunteers receive no payment for what they do and need to fundraise to buy new kit, equipment, and most importantly defibrillators. The aim is to equip every responder in the team with their own individual kit and defibrillator enabling the charity to provide 24/7 cover.

The money raised will go towards additional defibrillators which at some point in the future will save someone’s life.

A spokesperson from First Responders said: “A massive thanks to Llandrindod Wells RFC for kindly offering to shave some heads in order to raise money for us.

“It’s very kind of you, thank you for thinking of us, your fundraiser will go towards more lifesaving equipment for the local community.”

The headshave took place after the club’s Mid Wales Cup game against Rhayader, which Llandrindod lost 43-15 to the visitors.

There was also be a raffle and karaoke with Neil Rees.

For more on the match see page 65