SHE may have lost her lovely long locks but Natalie Smith was all smiles as she underwent a big cut for a good cause.

Family and friends watched as clippers were taken to the shoulder-length hair of 27-year-old Natalie.

Her father Jon Smith, who ran Basingstoke mobile disco Smudgers Roadshow, was admitted to Basingstoke hospital in May last year with what was thought to be a chest infection.

After two weeks, a liver biopsy revealed he was seriously ill and within a day he died with his family by his side at St Michael’s Hospice, just two days before his 48th birthday. It was later found that he had bowel cancer that had spread to his lungs.

Natalie wanted to do something to help both Bowel Cancer UK and St Michael’s Hospice, so she decided to undergo a sponsored head shave. The event took place at the clubroom at Basingstoke Town Football Club, at The Camrose, in front of Natalie’s mother Sharon, her sisters Jo and Kelly, and her two-year-old daughter Georgia.

After the big cut, Natalie, of Little Copse Chase, Chineham, said: “I had the idea a couple of months ago. I wanted to do a big fundraising event but I’m not into walking or running or anything like that. The hair feels okay actually. I felt slightly nervous but I’m glad I have done it.”

Her mum Sharon, of Dankworth Road, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, said: “It was an amazing thing to do and very brave. It is a brilliant cause because we do not want any family to go through what we have had to endure.”

Some of Natalie’s hair will be donated to make wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.