IT has been a hairy few months for a football fan after he took on a bet to not shave until his team won an away game.

Damien Hardy, of Arthur Street, Leigh, went 495 days without shaving his beard following the bet made with friends last April.

So it was a double celebration when the 30-year-old's beloved Bolton Wanderers secured a 2-1 win against AFC Wimbledon on August 13 and he was able to finally rid himself of his overgrown facial hair.

The father-of-four, who has now gone back to sporting his usual 'slight bit of stubble', said: "I had no idea it would go on for as long as it did. It was hard work.

"I was having to get up earlier to take care of it because it would get food stuck in it and all sorts.

"I would never do it again."

Before their recent win Bolton had last won away from the Macron Stadium last April 6, against Cardiff.

The car mechanic added: "I was tempted to shave it off at times but I knew I had to stick to it.

"The friend who bet me is glad that I have been able to shave it off though. He said it had started to look ridiculous.

"And my kids will actually kiss me now as well. They didn't like the beard."

Damien, who has supported the Whites since he was five years old, said his partner Gemma had mixed opinions on his long facial hair.

He added: "She hated it but now she says she can't look at me either.

"She didn't recognise me and said it had taken about 10 years off me."

Now, without any ulterior motive, Damien hopes Bolton pick up a lot more wins.

He said: "We just need to get some stability back and start bringing ourselves up again.

"It isn't going to happen all of a sudden but we can do it."