AN 11-year-old girl has had her waist-length hair cut off for charity after hearing it could be used to make wigs for children with cancer.

Chelsea Smith, from Darlington, had 14 inches cut from her hair to raise funds for St Teresa’s Hospice and to support the Little Princess Trust, which helps children undergoing chemotherapy.

Chelsea did not flinch as her ponytail was chopped off at Hair Sanctuary, in North Road, leaving her with short hair for the first time.

Her mother, Helen, said Chelsea has raised £200 in sponsorship for the hospice so far, with more donations still to be made.

Mrs Smith said: “Chelsea was really excited about it. I was crying, but she was really happy to have it done, although she said it feels a bit weird.

“She got the idea after hearing me and my sister talking about a magazine article I had read about another young girl who had donated her hair to be made into wigs and she said she wanted to do the same thing.

“We’re all really proud of her.”