A Russian teacher is economising on razors - by shaving with a garden spade instead. Alex Karpenko, 35, who teaches English, was taught how to shave with everyday objects by his Second World War veteran grandfather. Mr Karpenko, from Nizhny Novgrod, Russia, started with a sharpened axe but now uses his spade. He said: "Razors are an expensive, unnecessary luxury. My grandfather told me that during the war he used to shave using anything. "I was so impressed I decided to do the same. I must say though, when my wife first saw me standing in the bathroom with an axe to my throat she was pretty horrified. "So I decided to hang up the axe and use a sharpened shovel instead - I think it's probably a bit safer."