A MID Wales student has joined a campaign to help children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment or alopecia.

Michelle Jerman, aged 19, from Montgomery, had over a foot of hair cut off in aid of the Little Princess charity.

She got a completely new look at the Toni & Guy salon Shrewsbury, which is urging people with long hair to support the good cause.

“We are encouraging women and girls to donate seven inches or more of their hair to the Little Princess Trust, based in Hereford, as part of its ‘Hair to Spare’ campaign,” said Gavin Pulham, proprietor of Toni & Guy, in Castle Street.

“This is a wonderful charity which provides real-hair wigs to young people who have sadly lost their own hair due to cancer treatment or alopecia and it is in need of longer lengths of hair - seven or more inches.

“We asking women to come forward - the response has been amazing and so far we have collected almost several metres of hair.”

Michelle, a student at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, said: "It has taken two years to grow my hair to my waist and I wanted to donate it to the charity as it is such a brilliant charity.”

The charity was launched in 2006 by the parents of five-year-old Hannah Tarplee of Hereford who unfortunately lost her battle with cancer in 2005.

Gavin added: “As hairdressers, we know how important hair is to women and girls of all ages therefore we hope to be able to help by promoting the 'Hair to Spare' campaign.”

People who do not have enough hair to donate but who would still like to get involved can make a small cash donation instead which will go towards the production costs of the wigs.

Simply text WIGS01 (followed by the amount) to 70070.

All the money raised for the 'Hair To Spare' campaign will go the Little Princess Trust.