AN eight-year-old from Hexham is using her first trip to the hairdressers to help youngsters who have lost their hair through illness.

Sele First School pupil, Sofie Wood, has never had her hair cut in her life but plans to part with her long locks to enable the Little Princess Trust to transform her tresses into a wig for children living with hair loss.

"Sofie has used her hair as a security blanket and it has become a big part of her identity," explained her mum Sarah Wood, who is planning a trip to Transcend in Hexham at the end of the month.

"Recently, after trying to persuade her to have it cut, she made the decision by herself to donate her hair to children who have lost theirs through illness.

"I'm so proud that she's using this opportunity to do some good."

Sofie, who can currently sit on her hair but will be sporting a shoulder-length style in a few weeks, is fund-raising for the charity to help cover the cost of making the wig and hopes to raise at least £150.

She said: "I'm feeling excited about it. My friends think it's great."

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sofiewood