A BRAVE schoolgirl had her long locks cut to raise more than £1,600 for charity.

Ella Dopson, seven, from Canvey, decided to cut off her hair and donate it to the Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides wigs to youngsters who have lost hair as a result of cancer treatment.

Ella, a pupil at William Read Primary School, in Long Road, has grown up with the Indee Rose Trust, a charity set up in memory of her cousin, Indee Rose Dopson, who died in 2009 after suffering with a brain tumour.

The trust supports children who have been diagnosed with brain tumours by sending them treasure boxes full of gifts.

Ella was inspired by the memory of her cousin and the children who have received help from the trust to donate her own hair to charity.

She had her hair cut on Saturday at Funky Buddha in High Street and has managed to raise an impressive £1,638 for the Little Princess Trust.

Her mum, Perri Dopson, 31, said: “She took it all in her stride and loves her new hair cut!”

Echo: Ella before her hair cut