Big-hearted Robyn Manson said goodbye to her long hair to raise nearly £900 for children’s charity CHAS.

Robyn, eight, asked her mum Laura if she could hold a sponsored haircut after seeing a similar fundraising event on social media site YouTube.

The youngster, who has just left Prestonpans Infant School to move up to primary school, has always had waist-length hair, so mum Laura was surprised when she asked for permission to make the bold gesture.

Laura said: “Robyn came to me and said she wanted to cut her hair so she could help provide wigs for children who were poorly.

“She has always loved her long hair, so I suggested she take a day to think about it, and I pointed out that once she started collecting sponsorship she could not back out, but after time to think she insisted it was what she wanted to do.” Laura contacted CHAS, who sent Robyn an information pack and t-shirt to promote her fundraising, and Musselburgh hairdresser Medusa offered to carry out the cut for free.

Robyn, of Caledonian Court, Prestonpans, set about collecting sponsors and quickly raised hundreds of pounds from friends and family as she gathered support.

And when the day came she bravely sat in the hairdressers’ chair for the chop.

Mum Laura said she was very proud of Robyn, admitting her daughter had taken some time to get used to her new bobbed look.

Laura said: “She was fine on the day but I think it took a bit of getting used to, especially when she realised she could no longer tie her hair up; she plans to grow it long again.

“I am very proud of Robyn, she was determined to help other children and raised a huge amount of money.

“And she has been so modest about it, refusing even to take a certificate CHAS sent her into school to show everyone.”