TWO Basingstoke schoolgirls had their long locks chopped off to help a charity which makes wigs for children battling cancer.

Nine-year-old Cyra Whitworth, along with younger sister, Angel, five, of Mullins Close, Oakridge, both had around 10 inches of hair cut off at Top Notch Hairdressing, in Oakridge, on Saturday.

The youngsters decided to donate their hair to The Little Princess Trust – a charity which creates real wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment, or suffering from alopecia – after hearing stories of young people battling conditions on the news.

Cyra and Angel were supported on the day by parents Karema and Michael and their brother Leighton.

Karema, 35, told The Gazette: “I am very proud of them. They chose to do it because they are finding out as they get older about children being poorly and losing their hair through treatment.

“They had nice, long hair. The last time they had a hair cut was over a year ago so it had grown quite a lot. They are still trying to get used to it but they are happy with what they have done.

“It is a lovely thing to do”, Karema added.

The family also raised almost £200 for the charity. South View Infant School, where Angel is a pupil, held a mad hair day on June 5, raising £131 and the Oakridge Slimming World group, where Karema is a member, pulled in £46.