A TRIO of young friends teamed up to go for the chop, losing their locks in the midst of a glamourous charity ball.

Millie Roberts-Bee, Louise Crozier and Chloe Pattinson each donated inches of their long hair to the Little Princess Trust.

Their drastic haircuts took place during a masquerade ball thrown to raise money for cancer research and cardiomyopathy research.

The charity ball was organised by Darras Hall mum Claire Dobing, who after surviving a heart transplant, was determined to fund more research into the disease that almost killed her.

And after losing her father to prostate cancer and witnessing the devastation wrought by cancer on her friends and family, Claire decided to raise money for cancer research as well.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Millie Roberts-Bee had begun growing her hair specifically to have it cut to donate to the Little Princess Trust.

Mum Jackie Roberts-Bee, who was helping to organise the ball, said: “About a year ago, she was watching a programme on TV about kids losing their hair through cancer treatment.

“She realised how lucky she was and thought how she might feel, and that’s what prompted her to make the decision to grow and cut her hair.”

Millie was soon joined in her decision by Claire’s daughter, Louise Crozier (10), and her friend, Chloe Pattinson (10).

The trio braved the scissors to lose around 10 inches of hair each during the charity masquerade ball on September 19 at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club.

Claire said: “It was fantastic, there was a lot of love – it was a touching and emotional night.

“Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and about a year later I had a heart transplant.

“Four years later my brother also suffered cardiomyopathy and also underwent a heart transplant.

“I am healthy and fit now, but I’m raising money for research into the condition because it’s one of the biggest killers of those aged under 35.”

The event, which also featured a raffle and Irish dancers, raised £1,500 in total, including the £200 raised by Millie via her own Just Giving page.

The hair donated by Millie, Louise and Chloe will be sent to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to children who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment.