A schoolgirl has undergone a drastic haircut so her locks can be made into a wig for a child with cancer - and will donate her sponsorship money to an orphanage.

Tara Kucheria, a Year 1 pupil at the North London Collegiate School, in Canons Drive, Edgware, had nearly a foot of hair lopped off on Sunday to donate to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity provides real hair wigs and hair pieces to children who lose hair due to cancer treatment.

As well as donating her hair to charity, the six-year-old's efforts have chalked up around £1,250 in sponsorship.

Tara, who lives in Hendon, will be visiting the Holy Family Asha Niwas orphanage in New Delhi in August to personally make the cash donation.

Her mother, Ambika, says the whole family are looking forward to the trip.

Sjhe said: “She is really excited about her new haircut and has been showing it to her friends at school. She slept holding the hair last night.

She said her daughter was known to change her hair accessories three times a day.

She added: “I expected a few tears when she was getting it cut but I think I was welling up more than her.”