When five-year-old Ruby-Ellen Fox saw a story online about a little girl losing her hair during cancer treatment, she bravely pledged to cut off her own locks and send her hair to be turned into a wig.

And as well as donating her hair to the Little Princess Trust, the determined Beccles youngster also decided to raise funds to pay for further wigs to be made.

Her mum Toni Shaw said Ruby-Ellen is well-known for her lengthy, brown locks, and is hoping to donate up to 12 inches of her 24-inch hair.

Miss Shaw said: 'I was reading a story on Facebook and there was a picture of a little girl with a tube in her nose and no hair. Ruby-Ellen asked me why she didn't have any hair and I explained it was because of her treatment, and she asked me if she could give away her hair.

'So I searched online and we found the Little Princess Trust and she said she wanted to do it.

'I have been so emotional since she first spoke about it. I couldn't be more proud of her.'

The charity provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland that have lost their own hair through cancer treatment and other illnesses. And as well as donating up to 12 inches of hair, Ruby-Ellen, who attends Albert Pye Primary School, is also raising £500 for the cause, with £390 already in the fundraising pot.

'She talks about it everyday and is so excited,' said Miss Shaw. 'Her school has really got behind it and all of her friends run up to her in the playground and ask when she's having it done.

'When I posted about it on Facebook we had so many messages from people saying they wanted to donate.

'And people keep saying how lovely her hair is and how brave she is for doing it.'

Ruby-Ellen will be having her hair cut on Tuesday. And after that, she has already decided she will keep having it cut off for the same cause.

Gemma Saunders, a family friend, said: 'For someone so young to understand what that means to a child and for her to make a step to change someone's life is just amazing.'

To sponsor her visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Rubyellenhaircut