A KIND-hearted shop worker has donated her long locks to a children's wig making charity.

Mother-of-two Justine Kirkman, assistant manager at The Works in Crompton Place, had always had long hair but decided to get it cut off for a good cause.

She had 16 inches chopped off in one go and sent the hair off to The Little Princess Trust who used it to make wigs for children who have lost hair their through cancer.

Justine, aged 45, said: “It was just getting too much and I was only tying it up all the time so I decided it had to go.

“It was getting knotted all the time and I thought there must be someone who wants this hair. I did a bit of research on the internet and found The Little Princess Trust which seemed perfect.

“If it can go to some little boy or girl who is losing their hair, then that’s brilliant.”

As a mum to eight-year-old Aidan and Lauren, aged 21, Justine is lucky to have happy, healthy children so was delighted to be able to help a less fortunate youngster.

She said: “There can’t be anything worse for a child than to be suffering with cancer and having all your hair fall out.

"If my hair can make a little one happier, make them feel like a little princess again then it’ll be well worth it.”

Justine’s own children were delighted with their mum’s kind gesture and Aidan was amazed at the length of the chopped off locks when he saw them.

“In order to donate it, I had to tie it at the top, and then plait it all, and tie it off again at the bottom.

"When they cut it off there was 15 inches to send away in a little package and it was described as virgin hair as it had never been dyed,” said Justine.

“I went to Noggi’s on Bank Street to get it cut, where I’ve been going for years, and they thought it was a wonderful thing to do.”

Since changing her style for a much shorter, choppier look Justine, who lives in Tonge Fold, has enjoyed the newfound freedom her new cut has brought too.

She said: “I love it shorter now. I got used to it very quickly and everyone has said it’s taken years off me too. It’s so much lighter too, I couldn’t believe the weight of my hair.

“It used to take me 45 minutes to dry it after it had been washed and now it’s ten minutes and I’m all done so it’s great.”

Charity manager for the Little Princess Trust, Monica Glass, said: “It is truly amazing that Justine has chosen to help others in this way. Thank you.”

Crompton Place centre manager Paula Wood said: "What a lovely gesture. We have so many wonderful and generous staff at Crompton Place, it always nice to see people being so thoughtful."