AN 18 year old from Stanford-le-Hope has cut 12 inches off her hair raising more than £1,000 for the hospice charity that cared for her grandmother.

Sadie Petchey had been growing her hair for the last six years which had reached around 25 inches from root to tip before getting the big chop on 3 July.

Sadie donated her hair to The Little Princess Trust, a charity which produces wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments and raised sponsorship in aid of Havens Hospices in memory of her grandmother Janet, who was cared for by the charity's Hospice at Home Team.

Sadie said: "Havens Hospices provided home palliative care to my Nana in the final weeks of her battle with cancer. She was the bravest and strongest lady, who faced her battle with dignity and grace, right up to the end. She is dearly missed by all her family and friends. A day doesn't pass where we do not think of her loving and caring personality. Also, the hospice was able to provide her husband with support throughout the difficult times.

"These sorts of organisations are vital in ensuring our loved ones are comfortable as well as they can be during these difficult times, which is why I am choosing to support Havens Hospices."

Lauren Eagle Allen, Community Fundraiser at Havens Hospices said: "Our free hospice care can only exist because of the support and generosity from people like Sadie and we can't thank her enough for her kindness in raising vital funds towards our specialist hospice care. We must raise over £81,000 a week to be there for everyone who needs us, and it will truly make such a positive difference to the children, adults and families we care for."

To support Sadie's fundraising efforts visit her JustGiving page . If you would like to fundraise for Havens Hospices so they can continue 'Making every day count' for everyone they care for visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/fundraising