A St Albans schoolgirl who has been growing her hair since for more than six years has had it all chopped off so that it can be made into a wig for someone suffering from cancer.

Lois Bosatta cut off her long locks yesterday (Tuesday) and has donated them to the Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides real hair wigs to children suffering hair loss due to cancer treatments.

The St Albans High School pupil said: "My hair will grow back but theirs won’t.

"I don’t mind making a small sacrifice for someone who will really appreciate it.

"There is nothing else that would have motivated me to have it cut."

The 17-year-old decided to cut her hair after a reading an article about a seven-year-old girl who had lost her hair due to the disease.

Since then she has been raising cash and awareness for the charity among friends and family.

She said: "I have had a lot of support - my mum has always been behind it.

"A lot of people have said that it is a really interesting thing to do."

Lois, who lives in Kimpton, is also collecting sponsorship for cutting off her waist-length hair.

She hopes to raise £1,000 for the charity and is more than half way towards her target.

The young fundraiser now has a short bob style hairstyle and is very happy with her new look and the money she has raised.

She said: "Although I really liked my long hair it did get in the way.

"This is just really free and it will be nice in the summer."

To sponsor Lois' charity hair cut visit www.justgiving.com/loisbosatta.