A nine-year-old girl has cut off 10 inches of her hair to donate to a charity which provides wigs to children affected by cancer treatment.

Jenna Haji parted with three large plaits of her waist-length hair on February 21, which she has now donated to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity provides real hair wigs to children across the UK who have lost their own hair through radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Jenna, who attends North Bridge House Preparatory School in Gloucester Avenue, Primrose Hill, has also raised £720 in donations for the charity.

Jenna lives with her mum Salimah, dad and younger sister in Bancroft Avenue, Hampstead Garden Suburb. Salimah said: “She’s been growing her hair for the last three years and it just got to the point where she was thinking of getting it cut.

“She was doing a recycling project in school so she didn’t want to just cut it all off and put it all in the bin.

“I’m incredibly proud of the fact she was so thoughtful and wanted to do something worthwhile. It costs £350 to make a wig so Jenna said, ‘Let me see if I can raise some money.’

“She set a goal of £350 on her JustGiving page and within 24 hours she reached the target. Her headmistress is going to talk about what she’s done in an assembly.”

Year 4 pupil Jenna has no regrets about her dramatic change of style.

“When I had long hair, my hair felt quite heavy so it feels really light now,” she said. “I love it. It feels much better.

“I feel delighted that I got to donate my hair rather than letting it go to waste. I feel happy that children with cancer get to have my hair.”

Jenna has won praise from staff and pupils at North Bridge House for her fundraising efforts.

Her class teacher Kian Malone said: “Jenna can’t do enough for others and we’re immensely proud of her. She’s a very kind and a very giving pupil who’s very eager to help and look out for the little people and people in need.”

Little Princess Trust manager Monica Glass said: “Everyone connected with the Little Princess Trust is very grateful to Jenna for choosing to donate her hair to help a child suffering hair loss. Her hair will be blended with other similar donations and will be made into a wig for a child.

“Jenna is a true inspiration despite being so young. She wants to help others so much. Thank you!”

To support Jenna’s fundraising, visit justgiving.com/Jenna-Haji. To find out more about Little Princess Trust, go to littleprincesses.org.uk