A 13 year-old schoolgirl from Joyden's Wood has raised more than £600 for children at Great Ormond Street Hospital by taking a trip to the barbers.

Amelia O'Brien cut off her beautiful long pigtails and took the razor to her head on Saturday to shave off her hair for the hospital, after learning a friend of hers had stayed there when she was a toddler.

"She had a brain tumour when she was younger, I think she was between two and four years old," Amelia told News Shopper.

"I have always wanted to shave my head and I just thought it would be fun. I thought: 'If I'm going to do it I should do it for a good cause', she added.

Amelia, who is in Year Nine at Dartford Science and Technology College, had friends and family around her when she went to take the plunge.

She had help from Joyden's Wood businesses including S Clark Butchers and Dave's Corner Shop, who helped to cut her pigtails.

"My friends all like my hair actually," Amelia added.

As well as raising an impressive total of £610 for Great Ormond Street, Amelia will be donating her pigtails to the local branch of the Prince's Foundation, to make wigs for children.

And Amelia is not stopping there - she is just about to learn to play the cello, and with enough practice, she hopes to busk in the community to raise more money for the Hospital in future.

As for keeping her hair short, Amelia said: "I might do it again. I think I will grow my hair out and see if I want to do it again."