A SIX-year-old girl battling a brain tumour has raised more than £3,000 for children suffering from cancer after having six inches of her long hair chopped off.

Poppy Pearson took on the challenge after seeing children lose their hair through chemotherapy.

The pupil at Alleyn Court Preparatory School in Wakering Road, Southend suffers from a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 1, which causes tumours to grow along nerves.

Braving the hairdresser’s chair at Woo in Clifftown Road, Southend, six inches of Poppy’s long blonde hair were cut off.

The hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, which creates wigs for young cancer patients.

Mum Stacey, 32, of Barling Road, Barling, also got in on the act to support her daughter.

Poppy has not needed chemotherapy but doctors continue to monitor the tumour on her optic nerve every three months.

The genetic condition affects around one in 3,000 people and doctors have not carried out a biopsy in case the procedure blinds Poppy.

At the time of going to press Poppy had raised £3,651 for the Neuro Foundation.

To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/poppysbigcut.