A schoolgirl donated 16 inches of her long dark locks to a charity that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.

Eleven-year-old Maha Khan of Golders Green went for the chop at Hob Salon in Church Road, Stanmore, before sending her tresses to the Little Princesses Trust.

Maha said: “I really wanted to do something for charity and I was thinking about something I could give that’s special to me. I take a lot of pride in my hair so I thought that would be a nice gift.

“It’s really important for these children to have the hair because sometimes looks can really affect young people.”

Maha admitted she was feeling the nerves as she watched her hair being cut in one fell swoop – but her friends at Holland House School in Edgware have been very supportive.

She said: “They’ve all been really nice and a lot of them have sponsored me – I’ve managed to raise £510 for the Little Princesses Trust.

"I feel that it's a very good thing I've done. I still have nice long hair but the amount of hair I had cut off will make two wigs for the children.”