EIGHT-year-old Emelia Watts from Knighton had 10 inches of her hair cut off by Claire Williams from Room 2 at Newtown on Saturday evening.

Emelia was surrounded by family and friends at a party and smiled as the plaited hair was chopped off. She has raised at least £1000 for St Michael’s Hospice and her hair was bagged ready to be sent to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs for children who lose their hair while undergoing treatment for cancer.

Emelia, who likes to be called Mimi, decided in May 2013 to grow her hair for the charity after her hairdresser and close family friend Jane Priday lost all her hair before losing her battle with cancer. Jane was looked after at St Michael’s Hospice.