TEN little girls are sporting new haircuts after having their locks chopped to make into wigs for children with cancer.

In the space of one afternoon, the youngsters had about 100 inches taken off between them.

Lorraine Gander from Haywards Heath said her daughter, Atya, eight, loves her new look.

She said: “The maximum trim from the hairdressers was 17 inches and Atya went all out.

“I am a bit shocked that she wanted that amount off. She said her hair will grow back again so it doesn’t matter.

“And she can’t wait for it to grow back so she can do it all again.”

The hair will go to the Little Princess Trust, which turns it into wigs for children who lose their hair during cancer treatment.

The girls were also raising money for two charities that helped Natasha Penney, 37, from Burgess Hill, whose four-year-old son Sebastian has just gone into remission following a rare cancer tumour of the bladder and prostate.

She was supported by children’s cancer charity Clic Sargent and Brighton charity Forward Facing, which helps make memories for families who have a member with terminal or long-term illness.

The girls raised about £2,000 between them through sponsorship, and another £1,000 was made during the haircut event where there was a raffle and a cake sale.

The money will be split equally between the charities.

Natasha said: “Since my son was diagnosed we have had so much support and it’s lovely to be able to raise money to give something back.

“The whole day was just lovely. Sebastian was loving it being surrounded by all these girls. He handed them their party bags when they left.

“We sent out a request online for anyone who wanted to cut their hair to raise money for support.

“I only knew two of the girls that participated but the others came from all over.”

Natasha’s cousin, Joanna Idle from Burgess Hill, said: “My daughter Amelie raised about £500 and had about 11 inches cut off.

“She loved being part of it, and she has members of the family struggling with cancer so it means a lot.”

Natasha’s “Superhero son charity haircut” event took place on Sunday at Adastra Hall, Hassocks.

The girls included Chloe Collard, 14, from Burgess Hill; Atiya Gander, eight, from Haywards Heath; Grace Bigg, nine, from Gillingham; Lilly Godfrey, nine, from Balcombe; Imogen Jackson, seven, from Burgess Hill; Daisy Stoodley-Leppard, ten, from Haywards Heath; Ella Smith, four, from Burgess Hill, Amelie-Eve Idle, seven, from Burgess Hill, and Evie Maddison, six, from Seaford.