A CARING five-year-old has left her parents feeling emotional and full of pride after getting her long locks cut to help children with cancer.

Mia Oakley was all smiles as Hayley Milsom, senior stylist at Jessica's Hair and Beauty in East Wichelstowe, snipped off around eight inches of the youngster’s brown tresses this afternoon.

The pupil at Goddard Park Primary School, who lives in the Parks area, decided to have her hair cut for the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair to cancer, after watching some thought-provoking videos on YouTube.

She has also raised almost £1,000 for the charity.

Mum Sally Oakley, 34, said: “She watched YouTube clips of children getting their hair cut and children with cancer and it made her emotional and teary eyed, so she asked what she could do and if she could cut her hair.

“We gave her a week to decide and think about it and it is what she wanted to do.”

And this morning Mia woke up nervous but excited ahead of her haircut. Afterwards the youngster said she was happy to help poorly children and her hair felt a lot lighter. She later had it curled into a ‘princess’ style.

Sally, who works at Nationwide and has another daughter Eva, one, added: “I feel very emotional and proud of her, everyone else is too. At school they called her up in assembly and told everyone so she had had lots of support from everyone.

“We have been fundraising for two months now. We are still waiting to collect some sponsorship but so far we have raised £967. I am really amazed at the support and love she has received.”

Dad Luke, 32, who works at Honda, also joked it would take Mia less time to get ready in the morning for school.

He said: “It is an amazing thing for a five-year-old to do to make this decision. We have got friends all over the world and they have all been donating and sending their wishes and saying how amazing it is that she’s doing it.

“She’s always had long hair and was born with lots of hair, and she’s had so many haircuts. Now she can enjoy a short hairstyle for a while, it won’t be a chore for her to have her hair done every morning.”

And he added: “She has not had any wobbles about doing it. I’m happy for her and she has done a really good thing. She can look back and be proud of herself and I’m proud of her as well.

“She has gone past her target but we want to raise as much money for the cause and the wigs only last a year, even though there is 5,000 people donating their hair every year, they still need the donations.”

To donate go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sally-Luke-Oakley