A schoolgirl with hair so long that other youngsters would tread on it has had it chopped off for charity.

Libby Ayling, 6, from Woodmansterne, in Banstead, had hair which reached her bottom that had never been cut. 

But her mother Maxine Ayling said that the Woodmansterne Primary School student was "excited" to have 20 inches cut from her hair on Friday, September  27, at Best of Both Worlds Hairdressers in Banstead.

Through sponsorship, Libby has so far raised more than £700 for getting her hair cut for the first time, with all the money to be donated to the Oak Centre for Children and Young People at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton.

Libby’s sister, Mia, 9, also had 12 inches cut off her hair.

Both girls’ hair has been given to the Little Princess Trust which provides real-hair wigs to children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.

Mrs Ayling, 33, said: "Libby was so excited to get her hair cut and loves her new look."

To sponsor Libby visit her Just Giving page.