An eight-year-old girl from Falmouth was so moved by the plight of others while watching Children in Need that she decided to have 13 inches of her blonde, wavy hair cut off and then donated it to charity so it can be made into a wig for a child with cancer.

Amelie Mifsud, a pupil at Marlborough School, had sent her hair to the Little Princess Trust, but that is not where her charitable work ends.

A JustGiving page has also been set up and further sponsorship is rolling in meaning Amelie has so far also raised £1,156 for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Amelie, who lives with parents, Kirstie and Seb and siblings Jake, 15; Beth, 13 and two-year-old Bella, in Pendarves Road, said: “I watched Children in Need and the day after I got really stressed out so mum suggested maybe I could do this. You do not really need hair as long as you are healthy.

“We looked up some pictures of children with shorter bobs and it just made me think, maybe I should do it. I get worried about people with cancer and saw a story of a girl with cancer on Children in Need.”

Mum Kirstie added: “She gets very upset and wants to help everybody. Her hair was long and curly and she always, always maintained she was never going to cut it.

She has only ever had trims before – her hair was a big part of her personality and people always commented on her white blonde curly hair.

“Doing this has helped lift her spirits as she was upset on the Friday when she saw the bit about children with cancer. She was adamant she wanted to cut off enough so it would be long enough for a girl to have a long bob. We are really proud of her and we have had so many lovely messages from people. It has given her a real confidence boost because she has done something to help someone else.”

The family are continuing to collect money for CLIC until the new year. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/kirstie-mifsud or text MUHT61 £3 (or any other amount) to 70070.

Falmouth Packet:

Amilie after she had her hair cut