Lizzie Tylee is going under the scissors and shearing off her enviable mane of hair in aid of the charity which supports her older sister.

The 12-year-old, from Green-meadow, is raising money for the Lake District Calvert Trust after the support they gave to her older sister, Elouise, who has cerebral palsy and microcephaly.

Lizzie originally wanted to have her head shaved completely – but that is against the rules of her school, so she will be having it cut as short as possible.

Although Elouise is 14, her skull has not grown and is the size of a baby’s, meaning she has the brain capacity of a four-year-old and the mobility of a child of around six months.

Lizzie said: “My sister is in a wheelchair, she’s got severe cerebral palsy which means she can’t take part in a lot of the activities and things she could do.

“We’ve been to theme parks and things and they’ve said she can’t go on the rides because she’s in a wheelchair and because she can’t hold her head up.

“People think I’m the older sister which can be a bit annoying because I’m not, I’m the middle sister.

“I wanted to raise money for the Calvert Trust because they help people with disabilities and special needs like my sister and I was lucky enough to go with her there.

“We did rock climbing, abseiling, horse riding, lots of different things and it was just amazing. I wanted to do something to give something back.”

Lizzie, who is much admired for her long thick hair, is nervous about having it all cut off.

She said: “People always say that I’m really lucky with my hair because it has natural highlights, and people pay a lot of money to have their hair the colour like mine.

“It comes down to my ribs, it’s 20 inches long.

“ I’m quite nervous but I'm happy I’m doing it. It’s just a bit different.

“I just really want people to get behind me and sponsor me.”

Mum Yvonne, 50, said she was so proud of what Lizzie was doing and that she had already managed to raise around £400.

She said: “When she told me this was what she wanted to do I was just so proud of her.

“She thought of it all on her own – this is what she wanted to do, and her hair is quite a big thing for her.

“She’s a diamond.”

Lizzie attends Royal Wootton Bassett Academy.

Jonathan Hill, head of Year 8 at the school, said: “It’s the same with boys and girls, we said that they couldn’t have their head shaved because it’s against our uniform policy and it might draw attention to her that she might not appreciate.

“While we fully support Lizzie and we’re right behind her, we have asked that she have it cut at the beginning of the holidays and that she has it cut short rather than shaved.

“I also understand she intends to donate the hair as well so she should still be able to do that.”

The head shave will take place on October 25 at Abbey Meads Hairdresser’s and the hair itself will be donated to the Little Princess Trust for wigs.

To show your support, donate to the cause at Lizzie’s Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/LizzieTylee-headshave.