A pupil who was told she could not shave her head at school in memory of her father will cut off her long locks at a town centre bar instead.

15-year-old Sian Lawrence wanted to shave all her hair off to fundraise for St Helena Hospice, in Colchester, which cared for her father, Ian Lawrence, before he died of pancreatic cancer in 2008.

But Ramsey Academy, in Colne Road, Halstead, said she could not hold the event at school because it could send “mixed messages” to other pupils.

So the determined youngster has compromised and will have a short grade three hair cut as opposed to a full headshave at Scenarios in Trinity Street, Halstead, instead.

Sian, of Reuben Walk, Earls Colne, said: “Even though it’s different to what I’d planned you have to think of where the money is going to, not how we got it.”

She also thanked Ramsey Academy, who have agreed to hold a cake sale and non-uniform day in aid of the hospice, for their support.

The hair cut will take place at Scenarios on May 2 from 8pm.

Donate at justgiving.com/Sian-Lawrence