A girl had her golden locks chopped off for charity on Friday after she made friends with a young boy during a brief stay in hospital.

Katie Wood, 10, a pupil at Clore Tikva Primary School, Fullwell Avenue, Barkingside, had 11 inches of hair cut off for The Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes real hair wigs for children suffering through cancer treatment.

The decision to have the cut at Headjogs, in Exchange Ilford, High Road, Ilford was made shortly after Katie contracted viral meningitis and sparked up a friendship with a boy suffering from leukemia in a nearby bed.

Initially hoping to just donate her long blonde hair, Katie and her family were shocked by the generous donations made by school friends which amounted to just under �400 in five days, according to mum Sharron.

She said: “People have praised how selfless she’s been and the messages on Facebook for her have been so lovely.

“She was really nervous but she was never going to back out. The staff were so nice and they all donated too.

“One little girl even donated her �20 pocket money.”