A schoolgirl cut off over 16 inches of hair last night in a bid to raise money for children with cancer.

Abbie Gibbs, 14, of Stewards Green Road in Epping, will donate the hair to cancer charity, Little Princess Trust, where it will be used as a wig to young cancer patients. 

The teenager, who has never had her hair cut short before, had over 40cm of hair chopped off last night after growing it for a year.

Abbie said: "I heard about the Little Princess Trust online and when I looked into it I really wanted to do something that would raise money for children with cancer.

"I thought, 'I have long hair so why not cut it so someone else can too'.

"I feel happy now that it is done, I know I will have helped a child somewhere and that's what it is all about."

The 14-year-old, who attends St Johns School in Epping, has so far raised £370 and hopes to keep fundraising for the charity.

She added: "It is such a great feeling knowing that you're helping someone else, I will keep doing this for a long time.

"I am going to start growing my hair again from today, then when it gets long again I will donate it to help another child."

You can follow Abbie's journey or donate, here.