A DARLINGTON woman has shaved her hair off to support her twin sister through chemotherapy and raise money for the hospital where she is being treated.

Elizabeth Clark, 47, cut off her shoulder-length locks to raise more than £700 for Darlington Memorial Hospital's breast cancer care unit.

She decided to lose her hair after her twin sister, Ruth McCleod, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August.

Mrs Clark, of Deepdale Way, said: "She is my only sister, she is losing her hair and I wanted to support her."

Mrs McLeod lost her hair as a result of the chemotherapy treatment she undergoes every three weeks at the town's hospital.

It will be followed by radiotherapy at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital.

Mrs Clark added: "It was a bit of a shock when we found out. She is finding it hard with the chemotherapy.

"When I first mentioned about getting my hair cut off she didn't want me to do it.

But when she realised she would lose her hair, she said yes.

"It has been amazing the donations I have got especially with Christmas around the corner.

"I am really proud of her because it is hard for her and she is in good spirits."