I HAD believed that I had seen it all from so-called modern men when they began to wear frocks and earrings.

But I must admit, I nearly chocked on my tea and biscuits when I opened a copy of the paper this week only to find a ridiculous picture of the supposed fashionable footballer David Beckham with a mohican.

I used to frown and shake my head disapprovingly when I saw similar spiky abominations during the 1980s punk phase.

Surely he is not trying to tell the nation that such a pathetic attempt at teenage rebellion is back in vogue.

Children look up to this man, who has been known to parade around in skirts, apparently known as sarongs and even in his wife's pants.

I don't think this is a good thing and I am dreading my grandson begging for a hairstyle that would surely make him the butt of cruel jibes in the school playground.

As a child I tried to take a pair of nail scissors to my fringe but felt the sharp sting of the back of mother's hand.

What is wrong with a short back and sides these days? Mother would always bring out the old Pyrex bowl and give me a chop when I was a nipper.

Whatever next, with the elections starting and politicians making desperate attempts to catch the public imagination and the youth vote, maybe we will see Blair and Hague sporting barmy barnets.

Perhaps they could have a one-on-one debate where Hague could stick a false moustache down the centre of his balding head and reiterate the words of the similarly styled Robert De Niro in the film Taxi Driver "You looking at me, you looking at me?".

Even the mullet hairstyle sported by Kevin Keegan has got to be a cut above Beckham's Red Indian, scalp-hunter look. What is wrong with looking respectable and walking round with a shirt and tie and nice neat crop?

I am a pensioner and do not want to walk round with a skirt on and earrings and a stupid hair cut and I personally think it is an affront to national dignity.

Anyway, I was further appalled when Mrs Mann commented that David Beckham had better legs than I did for wearing a skirt.

She told me that when I perhaps 'found' where my hair had gone I could try out the style for myself. I didn't see the funny side.