A YOUNG girl will be going to great lengths for a charity which supplies children undergoing treatment for cancer with real hair wigs.

Mother Beth Cain said her daughter Ella came up with the idea to cut her long flowing locks into a short bob for Little Princess Trust after her cousin was diagnosed with leukaemia.

The 11-year-old, from Clarence Road, Malvern, has been growing her hair for about five years and will undergo the drastic cut at WR15 Hairdressing, Worcester Road, on Friday (April 25).

Mrs Cain said: "Ella literally came home school and asked if she could donate her hair to make wigs for children so we looked it up on the computer and the Little Princess Trust popped up.

"We have had cancer in our family so it was just something close to her heart and that's what she decided she wanted to do.

"Ella's hair is fairly long and the charity needs at least seven inches.

"It will be a big change for Ella, she had her hair short a long, long time ago but she has been growing it long for about five years."

Ella, a pupil at Malvern Parish School, has also managed to raise over £400 on her online donation page and is keen to raise as much money as she can for the charity

Mrs Cain said: "It's a charity so it is all funded by donations and it costs them money to make each wig which they give to the children for free.

"She has set up a Just Giving page for any donations to help with that.

"Ella is a bit nervous at the moment but also excited - she's just a bit worried about how much is coming off but she knows it will all grow back.

"We're all very proud of her."

A spokeswoman for Little Princess Trust said: "We understand how important a child's hair is to them so it is very brave and selfless of Ella to choose to donate hers.

"Her hair will go toward making part of a wig for a child and they will be very grateful when they receive it.

"We are grateful too that Ella and people like her have chosen to donate their hair to Little Princess Trust and raise awareness of the charity."

To donate, log on to www.justgiving.com/ella-cain.