A NINE-year-old girl took the brave decision to shave all her hair off in aid of cancer research.

Elsie-Leigh Tait took part in the headshave in front of all her fellow pupils in a special assembly, at Rosebrook Primary School in Stockton, yesterday.

Inspired by her two great-grandfathers Tommy Humphreys and John Tait, she raised over £500 for Macmillan Cancer Research.

Before hairdressers from Middlesbrough's Hair, Body and Soul Kerry Williams and Leigh Snowdon started the shave, her hair was sectioned into plaits which her classmates and the headteacher took turns to cut off.

Elsie Leigh's grandmother Ann Tait said: "She was very brave.

"It is all for her great grandads who she never met. She gets told about them but they both died of cancer so she wanted to do something in their memory.

"Then sadly her grandad passed away on Sunday morning and we weren't sure if she was going to be too upset to do the head shave but she has gone ahead with it.

"Her friends were really excited for her. One of them was worried about cutting her plait in case it upset Elsie-Leigh but there were no tears from her, she was absolutely brilliant.

"She is a very caring little girl.

"She told her mam she wanted to do it and her mam didn't mention it to anyone because she thought she would change her mind.

"But she was very determined that she wanted to do it."

Coincidentally Elsie-Leigh's teacher Alison Morgan had been battling breast cancer until recently and received the all-clear this week.

She said: "Elsie-Leigh is really great. She has been so excited in school all day – she's been a bit of a celebrity for the day.

"Her decision wasn't because of me, it was in memory of family members.

"It is amazing, she is such a strong, resilient young woman."

And Elsie-Leigh doesn't have to worry about her head getting cold this winter as her hair starts to grow back, as wig and extensions company Additional Lengths has donated a wig for her.