A TEENAGER whose mum was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer last year is donating her own hair to help children with the disease.

Alannah Smigielska-Philips, from Salisbury, lost 12 inches of her strawberry blond hair when it was cut on Thursday and says she plans to send it to the Little Princess Trust which provides real hair wigs to children suffering hair loss from cancer.

Her mum, Louisa, had major surgery last year at Southampton General Hospital after being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma cancer.

Alannah, 14, said: "It was quite a shock to our family and I wanted to do something to raise money for the hospital charity PLANETS which is for pancreatic, liver, biliary and neuroendocrine tumours.

"I thought I could raise money by cutting off my hair which can then be used to help kids affected by cancer who may have lost their own hair from chemotherapy.

"I feel they shouldn't have to grow up without hair and as I have quite a lot of hair and don't really need it, I decided to get it cut off and let a little kid have awesome hair."

Louisa who is a nurse at a dementia care home in Nether Wallop was able to return to work in November but continues to have regular check-ups.

She said: "Last year I became jaundiced and was diagnosed with a rare cancer for my age.

"I had a tumour on my common bile duct and needed surgery to remove the common bile duct, gall bladder and part of my liver.

"Because it was in the summer holidays, Alannah was around and was a little angel in helping me.

"Over the last few months she has become very conscious about cancer and when she saw a video online about hair donations, she decided to do it."

To donate search for Little Princess Trust on uk.virginmoneygiving.com or visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/PLANETS