AN OXFORD United coach has donated his hair to charity after growing it for two-and-a-half years.

Kieran Hayes, head of recruitment and player development at the club's academy, grew his hair beyond shoulder length to raise money and awareness for the Little Princess Trust.

The charity provides real hair wigs free of charge to children and young people up to the age of 24 that have lost theirs, due to cancer treatment and other illnesses.

Mr Hayes found out about the organisation from a former U's player, Paul Berry, who made more than 100 appearances for the club between 1977 and 1982.

Mr Hayes said: “It started when I was scouting and one of the boys was the grandson of an Paul Berry, who had long hair.

"We got talking and he said his grandson was growing it for charity.

"Mine needed a trim even then and I started wondering if I could raise some money by doing something similar.

“I heard about the Little Princess Trust and it seemed a perfect fit for what I wanted to do."

The academy coach began growing his own locks and did not stop until last week, when he visited Tru Barbers, in Slough, to finally get his hair cut.

He underwent a huge transformation, but insisted it was worth it to raise vital funds.

He said: “If I’m honest, I hardly recognised myself in the mirror but I am glad to have done it and it would be great of people wanted to make a donation, no matter how small, especially at this time of year.”

Mr Hayes sent his hair to the Little Princess Trust and it may become part of a wig for a sick child.

He is aiming to raise £625 for the charity and received more than £400 in donations within 48 hours of his JustGiving page going online.

The charity was launched in 2006 by the parents of Hannah Tarplee, who was diagnosed with having a Wilms tumour, which is in the kidneys and typically occurs in children.

After a brave battle, she passed away in 2005.

At that time, finding high quality wigs for children was very difficult and a suitable company was only found after a long search.

Following Hannah's death, her parents were inundated with people offering financial and practical support, including friends and Hereford Cathedral Junior School, which Hannah attended.

They decided the best way to use this help was to launch a charity dedicated to providing specialist real hair children’s wigs.

If you would like to donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kieran-hayes4

To find out more about the Little Princess Trust, visit www.littleprincesses.org.uk