A kind-hearted girl who grew her hair for a year has had her locks chopped off in aid of two charities.

Ellie, aged 9, has secured more than £170 in sponsorship for BBC Children in Need, which raises money for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

And the Monmouth School Girls’ Prep pupil is donating her locks to the Little Princess Trust in Herefordshire.

The Trust provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children across the UK and Ireland who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment.

Ellie, who is in Year 4, said: “I was thinking about having my hair cut for charity a year ago but I have been growing it because you need 30 centimetres in length to make a long hair wig.

“People have sponsored me more than £170 for doing it, which I will be donating to Children in Need, and the hair is going to the Little Princess Trust.

“Cancer treatment can cause children’s hair to fall out and my donation of hair will be going to make up a real hair wig.

“It feels a bit strange to have less hair now but I know it’s going to a good cause.”

Ellie’s hair was cut today (Friday) by stylist Jessica Roberts at Andrew Bayliss Hairdressing in Monmouth.

The generous staff at the Agincourt Square salon also chipped in to sponsor Ellie.

Mrs Phillips, Headmistress at Monmouth School Girls’ Prep, said: “One of our teachers has been given the all-clear from cancer.

“We have raised more than £6,000 for local and national cancer charities from events and activities over the past year and it is a cause close to our hearts.

“Ellie came up with the idea herself and chose the two charities to support and we are very proud of her.”