The father of a Shrewsbury teenager who remains seriously ill in hospital following the Shrewsbury blast today said he was planning to have his head shaved to raise money for the victims of the explosion.

Paul Turner, 52, said he and other family members were keeping a regular vigil at Selly Oak Hospital where his daughter Sam Devine-Turner, 19, is receiving specialist treatment for the burns she suffered.

She has been placed in an induced coma as medics treat her for severe burns to her arms and hands, and superficial burns to her face and other parts of her body.

Mr Turner said he was extremely grateful to the amount of public support shown following the incident, which has included the setting up of a campaign called The Bridge Street Fund to help raise money for the victims.

And Mr Turner, of Moston Road, said he was determined to do all he could to help by having his long hair shaved off to raise money for his daughter and her friends Sarah Pearse, Scott Godbold and Annie Davies, and Panto star Kiley McDonnell, who were all injured in the blast.

He said: “Because all of them have lost their hair either because it was burned or they had to have it cut, I am going to have all of the hair on my head shaved off.

“I have had long hair for as long as I can remember.”

Mr Turner said his family including Sam’s twin 17-year-old brothers Luke and Matt, were trying to stay as strong as possible.

He said the public response had been immense.

Mr Turner said he did not yet know when he would do the head shave but said he hoped to enlist the support of town crier Martin Wood to announce it in the town centre.

Meanwhile, John McClenaghen, subject leader for fine art at Wrexham University, where 19-year-old Annie Davies attended, today said he hoped she “got better soon”.

Officials from Shrewsbury High School, which Annie and Sarah formerly attended, and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, of which Sam and Annie are ex-students, also sent messages of support.

Martin Ward, principal of SSFC, said: “Our thoughts are with them and their families.”