A SWINDON barbers is offering free haircuts to hospital patients in the lead-up to Christmas.

Staff from Route 8 Barber and Grooming, based at the Orbital Shopping Centre, have been giving trims to people staying at Great Western Hospital in recent weeks.

The shop wants to give its unique service for bed or housebound people an extra push ahead of the season of goodwill.

Route 8 barber Sylvester King said: “We believe this will make people feel good.

“And it will help with their mental health if they’re stuck in hospital or not able to come to us.

“We’ve been going round people’s houses for about a year now but for Christmas we want to do more.

“I always believe it’s important to give back to the community.”

Sylvester has already received many messages about the offer and thinks up to 40 people will want to take advantage of the service.

He added: “The reception has been really good, I have already received a lot of messages from people who want us to help.”

“When I was younger, both of my parents spent time in the hospital so I understand what people in this situation are going through.

“If they give us a call we will try and cater to everyone’s times.

“We try and do everything on a Thursday but we’re always happy to look at other options.”

Hospital staff have praised the work of Route 8, according to Sylvester.

He said: “A lot of the staff are very happy to see us.

“Getting the haircut is the good side of it, but then you also see the sad side because most of these people are unable to do much.

“Over the next year we will continue to do free haircuts but we want to push it more for Christmas because it’s that kind of season.

“Regardless of the time of year, it is still a good thing to do.”

In July, Sylvester ran a scheme to provide homeless people staying at Swindon Night Shelter with haircuts.

When he first arrived in Swindon from London in 2008 he was without a home and told the Adver he “slept in a bush near Gablecross police station” until he was able to find work.

He added: “I feel I am in a position to give back and help.

"I have the people and resources willing to give back, so I created a community of kind people who understand and will not judge others, but who are willing to give their time to help other people.

“I look at life in a way people might find strange. I want to live a life where I can say I tried, and I used all my talent to benefit others.”

For more details, visit route8barbershop.co.uk