A BIG-HEARTED teenager and ambassador for young people is set to lose her long locks for charity.

Hannah Birch, from Halstead will turn 18 on Monday and is planning to donate her hair to charity to mark the occasion.

Today she visits Dale’s The Hair Salon in the High Street and have 17 inches of her hair snipped off for the Little Princess Trust.

The charity turns real hair into wigs for children and young people who have lost their own hair to cancer.

Hannah is already considered a role model by many and has been the leader of the town’s Happy group

for more than four years after being part of Halstead Youth Council.

The group act as ambassadors and aim to promote youth and young people in the town with events and initiatives.

Hannah said: “I’m donating my hair because I feel like I’ve been lucky enough to have had relatively good health for the duration of my childhood, and contemplating this as I turn 18, it seems so cruel that some young people don’t get to have this luxury.

“I adore my long hair so I can only imagine how much it would mean to a poorly little girl who isn’t as fortunate as me.

“I’ve always wanted to make this sacrifice because I think it’s such a simple thing to do, and mine will grow back. For someone else that may not be the case so it really could be life changing for them to have a wig.”

As well as donating her hair, Hannah is running a fundraiser on her Facebook page in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

So far the fundraiser has smashed the £100 target raising a whopping £400 and climbing.

She said: “I’ve had friends and family members that have been in the darkest situations with their health and GOSH has provided the light at the end of the tunnel with their kindness and support so if I can help them do this, then I’ll feel I’m making a difference.”

To donate, visit facebook.com/donate/2418392261788092/