by Nicola Jordan

njordan@thekmgroup.co.uk

A schoolboy who had a close shave after styling his hair on a TOWIE hero has heard from his idol.

Dan Smith, 14, got short shrift from staff at Strood Academy when he turned up sporting a hairstyle fashioned by Mario in The Only Way is Essex.

The trendy teen, of Darnley Road, Strood, was told during the last week of term to grow out his shaved barnet, described as “extreme” by principal Richard Hart, or face getting excluded.

But now his story - featured on KentOnline - has got so much publicity TV star Mario Falcone (pictured below) has sent him a personal message.

After posting his story and pic on Twitter, Dan got a tweet saying “Sorry to hear that mate.”

Mum Clare Whalin was told that if Dan doesn’t grow it back by Monday when he returns to school, he could be kicked out.

But he's now going back to the hairdressers get a new haircut.

"sorry to hear that mate" – towie star mario falcone, on hearing of dan's threatened

Mum-of-three Clare said : “I have brought my son up to make up his own choices. And if he chooses to have his hair cut like this, that’s his choice.

“His hair grows fast, so we are going back to the hairdressers over the weekend to get it cut.”

Dan has asked his stylist John Crudduck, who works at Headcase in Chatham, to do something different.

John said he has been inundated with boys wanting ‘Marios’ ever since the TOWIE star had the hair cut three months ago.

And since Dan had been in the paper even more were coming into the salon in Batchelor Street asking for a ‘Dan’.

John, who sports the style himself said: “Dan is a good lad who likes to look smart and presentable. I cannot see what all the fuss is about.”

Mum Clare, of Darnley Road added, said “Dan has always liked to look smart and trendy. It’s not as if I’m sending him to school with a purple dyed Mohican.”

Mr Hart, principal of the school in Carnation Road, said: “We believe there is a clear link between standards of dress, behaviour and educational outcomes for young people and this is reflected in our policies and procedures that were agreed with the Department of Education when we opened in 2009.

“Our rules state that extreme haircuts or style are not allowed, examples are patterns and unnatural colours.”