THIS nine-year-old girl lopped off her long locks in memory of her auntie who died from cervical cancer aged 24.

Abbie Birch from St Helens raised more than £330 for Willowbrook Hospice in memory her aunt Kerrie who was cared for at Willowbrook before she died on May 11, 2011.

Abbie’s dad Paul Birch, said: “I can’t praise the staff and volunteers at Willowbrook Hospice enough for the way they looked after Kerrie and the rest of our family.

St Helens Star:

Abbie's hair before

"Nothing was ever too much trouble and the team at Willowbrook did everything they could to make the last few weeks of her life as happy and comfortable as possible.

“Abbie was only a baby when we lost Kerrie but she was the apple of her eye. She loved ‘the bones’ of her.

"We’ve always kept the memory of Kerrie alive but it was Abbie who made the decision that she wanted to have her hair cut to help raise money for Willowbrook. “

Abbie had been growing her hair for several months before having her waist length hair cut to a bob at salon Dream Tan off Berrys Lane.

St Helens Star:

Kerrie, far left, with her siblings including brother Paul, Abbie's dad

Paul added: "We’re so proud of her and what she’s achieved. Kerrie’s favourite saying was ‘it’s amazing!’…and that’s exactly what Abbie is ..AMAZING!”

Abbie who attends Sutton Oak Primary School, also donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children with cancer.