Student Gabrielle Townsend had her crowning glory chopped off to make a wig for a cancer patient in memory of her grandmother.

Gabrielle, 18, from Icen Way, Dorchester, who is studying for her A-levels at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, swapped her long auburn tresses for a sleek crop after deciding to raise money for Cancer Care Dorset in memory of her nan Dolly, who died of bowel cancer.

She had her wavy hair put in a ponytail and sheared off to make into a free wig for patients who have lost their own hair through chemotherapy, because she remembered that Dolly had to pay £60 for just a short wig.

Hairdressers from Dames and Dodgers in Coburg Road did the haircut. And a wigmaker from Bournemouth is making the hair into a wig free of charge to help Gabrielle raise her target of £1,000 for the charity, which gives nursing care to cancer patients in their own homes. Gabrielle, who wants to

follow in her mother Christine's footsteps and become a nurse, said: "They cut the ponytail off with big shears before giving me a complete re-style.

"I remember my nan had to pay £60 for quite a short wig and I thought a long wig would be very expensive, so I wanted to give my hair to make a wig that Cancer Care Dorset could give to someone.

"My family have got sponsorship forms out everywhere and I have quite a bit of money pledged, but I don't know whether I'll reach my target."

The fundraising drive has been on Gabrielle's mind since Dolly died four years ago and she has been growing her hair for the last two years in preparation.

Liz Hole, the charity's fundraising services manager, said: "We very much appreciate the efforts so many

people in the community put in to raising funds for us.

"Without them and their help we could not survive.

"Gabrielle's efforts have been excellent - absolutely brilliant. And her hair looks lovely - it really suits her."