An Attleborough councillor and former mayor will shave off her long locks to raise cash for charities chosen in her late son's memory.

Eastern Daily Press: Ryan, the son of Samantha Taylor, who died in 2013.Ryan, the son of Samantha Taylor, who died in 2013. (Image: Archant)

Samantha Taylor will brave the drastic new look - and wave farewell to 27 inches of hair - at her pub, The London Tavern, next month, in memory of Ryan, who died aged 21 in November 2013.

Money raised will be donated to Attleborough Boxing Club and Nurture by Nature Forest School, based just outside the town, while the hair will be given to the Little Princess Trust.

Mrs Taylor, who will turn 40 next week, said the causes were chosen with Ryan, known as Ry to his loved ones, in mind.

'When I was mayor the boxing club events were the ones that Ryan used to want to come with me to,' she said. 'I think he would have signed up to the club if it wasn't for his trademark glasses, which would have made it difficult to fight.'

The forest school was chosen for their work with children and teenagers, particularly those who often find themselves in trouble.

She said: 'They help a lot of kids who have been referred to them by the police, taking them away from their social network and showing them how to avoid getting into trouble, like Ryan sometimes did.

'And as for the little princess trust, it must be awful at any age to lose your hair to chemotherapy but for a child it must be devastating. It's just a wonderful gift for a sick child, so who wouldn't want to donate their hair if they were having it all cut off. It's so easy to do. '

The funds will be added to Mrs Taylor's unclaimed mayors allowance, collected during her tenure from 2012 to 2013.

The town stalwart insisted she wasn't nervous about the chop.

'To be honest there's always been a part of me that's wanted to do it,' she said. 'I was a bit nervous a while ago but it's so long now that it's just a pain. I'm quite looking forward to it.'

In April 2014, the Taylor family bought the former Bear pub, on Exchange Street and named it Ry's Bar and Grill in Ryan's memory.

Next month's event will take place at the Church Street at 8pm on Friday, February 12. Mrs Taylor has already raised £1,700 and hopes to top the £2,000 mark.

For more information visit its Facebook page, by searching The London Tavern, or call 07983178799.

Are you organising an Attleborough fundraiser we should know about? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk