BRIDPORT: A determined 13-year-old girl proved a cut above the rest by facing the scissors and donating her hair to a children’s cancer charity.

Sir John Colfox school student Ella-May Cauldwell, who lives in Bridport with mum Hannah Lee, decided to chop more than seven inches off her hair, which had draped to below her knees.

Her haircut has raised close to seven times her £150 target.

The brave teenager’s efforts came after learning more about charity The Little Princess Trust, which provides free real hair wigs to children across the UK who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.

Ella-May said: “I have always had more hair than the average since the minute I was born. Mum says at six months I had a top knot, by two I wore it in bunches and at primary school I had long plaits. I am now 13 and my hair reaches the back of my knees at than 124cm.

“Although my hair is very much a part of who I am, I felt that the time had come to cut it and would really love for it to be made into a wig for a child who is suffering with hair loss.”

Ella-May faced Christina Wareham-Booth’s scissors at Beau Hairdressing in Bridport on Tuesday – and her hair will be fashioned into a charity wig.

Mum-of-three Hannah said: “We watched a YouTube video from the charity which showed a girl Ella’s age struggling with hair loss and it struck home for Ella.

“I am so proud of Ella.”

On her Justgiving page, Ella has raised more than £380, which doubled her original target amount of £150.

But with this week’s event, which included a raffle and cake sale, plus sponsorship, the amount raised is nearly £1,000.

Hannah added: “The salon was packed to capacity. It was brilliant. When we realised how well we were doing we set another target of £700 because that would pay for two wigs - now we have nearly got enough for three.

“We are pleased with that.”

Monica Glass, charity manager for The Little Princess Trust, said: “Everyone associated with the Little Princess Trust is so very grateful to Ella-May for her amazing contribution of hair.”

For more information or to donate visit justgiving.com/Ella-May or text EMAY 55 followed by the amount to 70070.