A SCHOOLGIRL has had 19 inches of her hair snipped off in a bid to raise cash for two good causes.

Eleven-year-old Fern Margetson, from Ringshall, had a great length of her hair cut off in aid of The Little Princess Trust, which provides real-hair wigs to children who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment.

As a former Stowmarket Carnival Princess, Fern has also been raising money for Stowmarket Carnival, which relies on donations and sponsorship to go ahead each year.

The deed was done at Stowmarket High School by hairdresser Denise Hutton and Fern said she was inspired by a former schoolmate who had lost her hair during her brave fight against cancer.

Fern said: “It was strange because I have been growing it for 11 years. Sometimes I forget I’ve had it cut and go to pull my hair and just feel air.”

The Needham Market Middle School pupil’s mother Justine, 45, said it had all been Fern’s idea and she had raised nearly �600 in sponsorship.

The charitable act was just part of an evening of fundraising, with dozens of activities raising cash for the town’s 2013 carnival fund.