AFTER growing her hair so it measured 84cm, a Hagley schoolgirl has chopped off her long locks to help children who are battling cancer.

Becky Smith, 13, had never had a proper haircut, but that changed this week when 14 inches of her hair was cut off at Caprio's Hair, in Kingswinford, and donated to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity provides wigs and hair pieces for children who suffer hair loss due to cancer treatment and require seven inches of hair to make a wigs.

Becky, a Hagley Catholic High School pupil, also set up an online fundraising page three weeks ago and thanks to generous donations from family and friends was able to raise £2,095 in the short period of time.

Her mum Claire said: “This is something Becky decided to do herself, she is always doing things to help other people.

“Becky is a very determined young lady and has strong views and beliefs on many issues and often takes it upon herself to write to her local MP about an issue because she is determined to make changes.

“We, like most families, have been affected by cancer and as her understanding of the disease has strengthened, she’s become more aware of the suffering through cancer and its treatment. So she took it upon herself to look up The Little Princess Trust.

“She had some amazing donations from family and friends and even friends of friends through Facebook, with one person we don’t know donating £70.

“I’m very proud of her and the money she has raised, and the hair she has donated, will really make a difference to children who are undergoing cancer treatment.”

Becky now intends on growing her hair so she can donate once again to the Little Princess Trust as soon as it is long enough.