A nine-year-old from Willesden Green who loves her long hair so much she cries if it needs a trim is having it cut off for charity.

Sophia Malta, from Lydford Road, is having 15 inches (38cm) cut off her thigh length hair for the Little Princess Trust, while attempting to fundraise £2,000 for children with cancer.

The charity provides real hair wigs to children across the UK who have lost their own hair through radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Many are donated free by the manufacturers in China but the charity also buys them at a cost of £350 each.

Sophia said: “I feel kind of nervous because it’s my first big hair cut. I usually cut three fingers worth and I just start to cry. So I feel kind of happy I’m doing this.”

The youngster, who lives off the High Road, said she was inspired by a family friend who on visit to hospital met a young girl with cancer. “The girl said to her ‘I wish I had hair like that, can you give me some’ and that made me think I can give some of mine.”

She added: “Because the wigs costs £350, if you give the money to the charity they may be able to buy not just one but many.”

Ego Hairdressers in Salusbury Road are sponsoring Sophia and will give her a shoulder length bob on February 20.

To sponsor Sophia visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/andremalta1.

For more information about the Little Princess Trust go to littleprincesses.org.uk.