A TEENAGER has raised almost £1,000 in memory of her grandmother after having her beloved locks chopped off for charity.

Lauren Hayhurst, 16, last had a haircut more than three years ago until she shaved the lot at Tricky’s in Oswaldtwistle.

Her mum, Julie, said the youngster was ‘a little bit nervous’ beforehand - because she used to spend two hours a day straightening her long black hair.

Lauren, a student at St Wilfrid's CE Academy in Blackburn, collected donations for four good causes including Cancer Research UK, the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Stroke Association. Her gran, Avril Atkinson, died at the age of 65 after suffering a stroke 10 years ago.

Mrs Hayhurst, of Apple Tree Way, said: “The Stroke Society was obviously in memory of her granny, who she never properly got to know.

“The others were just suggested to her by friends. We all know people, including one of my friends, who have been affected by cancer.

“She did the Race For Life last year as well and so far we’ve got around £800 but we’re still counting.”

The haircut was carried out by Emma Jones, who runs a salon in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle.

She said: “ It was quite a nervy process - it was a lot of hair.”