'My New Hair' at Gerard Hair and Beauty in Croydon Road, Caterham is an initiative by Trevor Sorbie to bring cancer sufferers a way to cope with hair loss during treatment for their illness. Stylists, Sam Porter and Jayne Gordon are specially trained to cut wigs before the client begins chemotherapy so that the wig will look like the client's own hairstyle.

Lorena Massoni, owner of Gerards, said: "The client comes back to us for their fitting after they have lost their hair so hopefully the hairloss is less traumatic for them."

Gerards can also help mastectomy patients with fitting pocketed bras and selecting the correct prosthesis in addition to areola reconstruction after surgery.

Lorena said: "Some of the services we offer cancer patients are also available on the NHS so we explain to them exactly what is available on the NHS and what would be an additional service from us. It means they go into hospital with a clearer idea of what they will be offered.

"We participate in various breast cancer fundraising events as well as volunteering in hospitals and support groups, so if there are any local support groups that would like us to go in and measure their ladies for free, we are happy to do that." For more information call 01883 344273.