GWENT schoolgirl Sophie and her mum Emma Bessant will be very light headed on Saturday and it’s got nothing to do with the FA cup football match at Rodney Parade.

Newport County will be taking on Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup but the Torfaen mum and daughter will have more pressing things on their minds on the day.

Sophie, aged seven, from Sebastapol, near Pontypool and who attends Ysgol Panteg, will join her mum Emma to get their long flowing hair chopped for charity on Saturday.

Sophie, who has 17in hair and mum Emma with 20 inches, are raising money for Newport-based St David’s Hospice Care through the charity cut.

The mum, who has long hair all her life and daughter’s hair will be expertly cut by stylist Michelle, of the Headlines salon, High Cross Road, Newport.

The locks will then be donated to the Princess Trust to fashion into wigs for youngster cancer patients

Emma, who works at Newport-based Phil Bessant Accountants, said: “Sophie has been growing her hair long for just over a year. I’ve always had long hair since I was in my teens so for me to have my hair cut short is going to be a very big change!

“Sophie is very excited at having her hair cut as she know that it’s in a very good cause and that a little girl or boy will be getting her hair made into a stylish wig.

“We will both end up with a completely different look to that which we are used to-so it’ll be fun and a bit daunting.”

Kris Broome, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “It’s quite amazing the lengths some of our fundraisers go to raise money for St David’s Hospice Care. We are extremely grateful to Emma and Sophie for putting the locks on the line to support us in this way.”

To donate please visit our Just Giving Page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/phillip-bessant