AN EIGHT-year-old from Hellifield is to have her long locks shorn off - to boost a children's charity.

Young Caitlin Coupe, a pupil at Hellifield Primary School, decided to donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs for children who have lost their own hair because of cancer treatment or other illnesses.

Caitlin has also been raising cash for the charity - she wanted to raise £350, the estimated cost of making one wig, but has already raised more than double her original target.

And her efforts have been backed all the way by parents Alexander and Hannah Coupe, of Station Cour, who will see Caitlin lose her locks at Hairods, of Newmarket Street, Skipton, on Saturday.

Proud mum Hannah said: "Caitlin is a very determined little girl and over the past two months she has gone above and beyond, asking friends, family and more to donate.

"For someone so young to have the empathy and determination to do something like this to try and make someone going through the unimaginable feel a bit brighter is amazing.

"Me and her dad have both been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everyone who has donated so thank you to them and obviously a huge well done to Caitlin. May her kindness inspire others."

Donations can be made on Caitlin's Just Giving page at: www.justgiving.com/Caitlin-Coupe