A MOTHER and daughter have lost their long locks to help sick and disadvantaged children.

Seven-year-old Eliza Street and her 44-year-old mum, Beth, had never had a haircut in their lives .

But they went under the scissors to raise money for orphaned and disadvantaged children in the Philippines.

Their beautiful long tresses – 16 inches for Eliza and 14 inches for Beth – will be donated to the Little Princess Trust to be made into wigs for children suffering from cancer.

Beth was following her daughter's lead after Eliza suggested the fundraiser. She said it was a particularly big sacrifice for her daughter, who loved her 'Rapunzel' hair, but who wanted to do something to help other children.

"We are feeling very strange at the moment because we have never had a haircut," she said. "It is very short now."

"My husband has been asking me for 30 years to have a short hair cut, but I have always said 'no way'."

Beth, who is originally from the Philippines, lives in Menston with husband Ian, as well as Eliza, who is a pupil at St Joseph's in Otley, daughter Sheeana, 18, and son Shaun, 15.

She is only too aware of the need to help the children who suffer during the horrendous tropical storms that blight the country of her birth. She set up the Angels for Children Foundation to do just that, and was planning to travel out to the Philippines with her daughters this week to work with children there.

She is hoping to raise about £1,000 through the sponsored hair cut – provided free of charge by Yazz hair studio, in Rawdon – and a 5k run Eliza took part in. Visit her website to donate.