A SUPERMARKET worker has lost her locks in support of a colleague with breast cancer.

Heather Ellis, 52, of East Cowton, near Northallerton, has not had short hair since she was a baby.

That changed yesterday when the customer service assistant at Tesco, in Catterick Garrison, had a "number one" crew cut.

As well as raising money for the breast cancer unit at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital, the cut was to support colleague Linda Pearson, who was recently diagnosed with the disease.

Mrs Ellis said: "When Linda was diagnosed, I said if she lost her hair I would lose mine as well.

"I've had long hair ever since I was a little girl - it's never been shorter than my shoulders.

"I'm sure it's going to feel strange for a while, but it's all in a good cause."

Mrs Pearson, 45, of Richmond, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and had a mastectomy in December. She lost her hair soon after starting a course of chemotherapy.

"From the beginning, Heather said she would shave it off, but I can't believe she's gone through with it," she said.

"We did think she would look scary but actually it makes her face look really soft."