A six-year-old 'Rapunzel' from Helston is preparing for her first ever haircut in order to help young cancer patients.

Matilda Chambers' hair currently reaches her bottom, but she is preparing to have it chopped to her shoulders in order to donate it to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity creates wigs and hair pieces for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment, using real strands donated by supporters. In order to make a donation Matilda must have a minimum of 17cm cut off.

Her mum Katie Chambers said: "She never wanted her hair cut from a really young age, she wanted to be Rapunzel, so we just never got it cut. Then it turned into a bit of a problem where she needed to have spilt ends cut off and was to scared to, so for her this is massive."

Matilda decided she wanted to take the big step and have the cut after hearing about the charity from a mum in the school playground.

Having continued to pester her mum about it over the next few months, Katie finally agreed. "I had my hair shaved myself, so I couldn't really say no!" she said.

The kind-hearted six-year-old explained: "I like the idea of helping someone who cannot grow there hair because of cancer. We have had a lot of dealings with cancer in our family; any way we can help we will.

"Any amount will be gratefully received as the money I raise will be a bonus, as the hair is what matters and that will definitely be donated."

Support for Matilda, who attends St Mary's Catholic Church each Sunday with her grandparents, has been coming in thick and fast, with £105 raised within 24 hours of her online fundraising page being set up. Since then the total has risen to £170, with just over two weeks still to go.

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/matilda-rose09

Matilda will have her hair cut on February 6 by staff at Toni & Guy in Falmouth, who have been helping promote the fundraising on Facebook, calling Matilda "wonderful" and "brave."

St Michael's School in Helston, where Matilda is in year two, has also got involved, with her class teacher Suzanne Bray putting up posters and adding a donation pot to her desk.

Miss Bray said she was delighted to offer her support to Matilda, who she described as a "sweet girl, always thinking of others."

She added: "Matilda is a very popular girl; she's friends with everyone. If anyone is feeling a bit sad or is hurt, she'll always look after them."

Matilda's mum Katie said: "The support she has had from schoolfriends and parents has been astonishing."