DURING adolescence teenagers take great pride in their appearance.

But one plucky schoolgirl has had her luscious locks of long blonde hair chopped off entirely - and it’s all for a good cause.

Katie Evans, 15, let staff from Annie’s in Mill Hill, Blackburn, loose with their scissors in an effort to raise money for Marie Curie and the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to young cancer battlers.

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She said: “I had so much hair and some people with cancer don’t so I wanted to give them mine so they could have a wig.

“Annie’s said because I was having it cut for something good, they did not want me to pay. They said I could have it cut for free. I didn’t regret it but I was upset.

“But then I realised it was a good thing to do.”

The youngster, who lives with her parents Michelle, 47, and Mark, 37, and her older sister Nina, 28, in St Aidan’s Avenue, Blackburn, and attends Walton-le-Dale High School, has not had her hair cut for around five years.

And her proud mum said it was so long it could even be tucked into her skirt.

Mrs Evans said: “I’m so proud of her. She actually said last year she was going to get it cut after prom next year, but then she suddenly decided she would get it cut now.

“She was in primary school the last time she had it cut. She has just let it grown all throughout high school.”

Katie also raised £340 in sponsorship from friends and family for Marie Curie.