A 17-year-old hair and beauty student from West Nottinghamshire College, Mansfield, made a brave gesture last week, in the name of helping poorly children.

Molly Davies, 17, from South Normanton, sat in the college’s Revive hair salon and happily let hairdressing students chop off her long, brown locks.

The gesture was in the name of supporting The Little Princess Trust which provides real hair wigs for children suffering with hair loss due to cancer treatment or other illness.

Molly, who has had long hair for most of her life, decided to cut her hair short to support the Trust and also raised more than £80 in cash for the charity with the help of her classmates.

Watched by her mum, dad and aunty, Molly’s hair was divided into four plaits by student hairdressers and Molly even cut one of the plaits off herself.

Molly, who is studying the Diploma in An Introduction to the Hair and Beauty Sector, said: “I just wanted to help a good cause and The Little Princess Trust is close to many people’s hearts. There’s been cancer in my family before.

“I’m quite looking forward to having a cooler, shorter style for summer too.”

Molly’s mum Alison said: “She’s very brave to have it cut off, I don’t think I could do it. Molly’s had long hair for most of her life and she’s done a great thing for charity.”

Pictured is Molly after the chop with her mum and dad, Alison and Russell.