A FOUR-year-old is more than halfway to her £1,000 charity target after deciding to donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust.

Emma Bell-Smith thought daughter Millie’s obsession with getting her long locks lopped off was just a phase, but one year later she is still determined to do it.

Millie, of Legerton Drive, Clacton, did not want her hair to go to waste, and so she turned her wish into a charity fundraiser.

The youngster already takes part in the Colchester Relay for Life and Race for Life every year.

Ms Bell-Smith said: “She is having it cut at the Colchester Garrison athletics track. On the day of the cut she would have been going on about her hair for a whole year.”

Millie has raised almost £600 towards her target.

She has become a poster girl for the event at Willow Tree Nursery and in Clacton town centre where her face has become so well known that she has received donations from shop owners who chat to her about the appeal. Her mum said: “We have gone to town to hand out posters and she gets excited when she sees herself on them.

“We have moments of being really overwhelmed, especially when complete strangers sponsor us. It’s amazing how nice people are and how much they have supported her.”

Millie and her family completed a charity dog walk on Sunday, trekking five miles along Clacton beach. Emma said: “It was amazing how many people came up to us to give us money – it was crazy.”

The big chop takes place on September 6 at 10am during the Colchester Relay for Life.

To sponsor Millie, search for Millie’s Big Chop on Facebook.