It is the first time his wife and four children have seen him without the beard.

I have never seen Dad without a beard before and I am quite traumatised by the result

Charlotte Edmonds

Edmonds promised the Green Wellie appeal that if it raised enough money then he would undergo the shave.

His Devon home is at the heart of one of the most seriously affected areas by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

He said he was stunned at the sight of himself hairless.

Edmonds has helped local farmers

Rehabilitation

He said: "Oh my god - it is the picture of a baby's bottom.

"Well, it's a shock but it is all in the name of a good cause I suppose and now I am going to keep it off.

"This is my rehabilitation into society."

His 17-year-old daughter was there to witness the momentous occasion.

Style challenge: Edmonds fronted Top of the Pops in the 70s

She said: "I have never seen Dad without a beard before and I am quite traumatised by the result and his whole family will be for the next couple of weeks."

Edmonds has been involved in helping his local community during the crisis, including taking food out to affected farms, and meeting with a local government official.

Anger

He has proposed the government should consider burying the backlog of animal bodies at sea.

Edmonds' chin: Last seen in July 1970

Writing an article in the Western Morning News, he wrote: "I feel the emotion of real anger at what is going on in what is a very serous animal welfare issue.

"As a nation we are being pilloried around the world for what is going on in our countryside."

He continued: "This is more than just about the farmers and if you love the countryside then now is the time to stand up and be counted.

"The effect of what is happening at the moment goes right down the economic chain and in that sense it is not just an animals crisis."