A BRAVE grandmother has had her long blonde hair shaved off to raise money for a hospice after being touched by a family tragedy.

Deborah Briggs, 53, called in at Jigsaw hairdressers in Darlington and declared: “I want it all off.”

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-nine was moved to raise money for St Teresa’s Hospice after her sister-in-law Cheryl Langan died of cancer.

“Cheryl was cared for by the hospice and I just wanted to do something to help,” she said.

Jigsaw owner Nigel Dowson started with a pair of scissors to snip off Deborah’s ponytail, which will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity supplying wigs for children who lose their hair during cancer treatment.

Nigel then used clippers to take off the bulk of her hair before handing over to Lee Wardell, from Barry’s Barbers next door, who applied the finishing touches with a safety razor. Both men happily gave their services free.

Deborah’s daughter, Caroline, and grand-daughter, Sinead, were there to give moral support.

“It was a bit nervous of what it would look like but it wasn’t as bad as I thought,” said Deborah. “I suppose people will get a bit of a shock when they see me but it’s for a really great cause so I don’t mind.”

Nigel said: “It my humble opinion, it suits her.”

Anyone wishing to support Deborah’s fundraising effort can leave a donation at Jigsaw Hairdressers in Gladstone Street, Darlington.