At two feet, his blond hair was almost as long as the six-year-old is tall.

But when he was asked to think of a way to raise money for charity in memory of his beloved grandad, Jarred didn't hesitate to say goodbye to his precious tresses.

After a year collecting £600 sponsorship from friends, family and fellow pupils at Ashbeach Primary School, in Ramsey St Mary's, near Ramsey, Jarred has had all but a few inches shorn off in aid of Thorpe Hall Hospice, in Peterborough.

Mum Chellie (36), of Oilmills Road, Ramsey, said: "Jarred really loved his long hair, and he's never wanted to have it cut.

"Because I've never liked getting my boys' hair cut either, I was always happy to let him get on with it.

"He really adored his grandad and after we lost him, we were talking about how we could raise money for the people who cared for him at the end of his life.

"Jarred just decided he really liked the idea of getting his hair cut, and from that point on, was determined to get it done. It was all in memory of his grandad and I'm really proud of him."

Jarred's grandad, Les Papworth, died of cancer three years ago at the age of 55.

Since the youngster embarked on his fund-raising venture, his sister, Teigan ( 11), and brothers, Garrick (10) and Ethan (4), have done whatever they can to help him raise the money.

His grandmother, Sheila Papworth, who works as a door-to-door sales rep for cosmetics firm Avon, boosted the fund-raising total by collecting sponsorship from her regular customers.

Hair-cutting duties were carried out by aunt Joan Smith and the locks themselves – all 20ins of them – are being donated to the Little Princesses charity, which makes wigs for youngsters who lose their hair because of cancer treatment.

Jarred, meanwhile, is determined his hair will be restored to its former glory – but only so he can go through the whole process again.

His mum said: "He's loving his new look and really enjoys being the centre of attention. I personally think it really suits him.

"But he did say it's a bit short for his liking, so he's going to grow it back to raise some more money by getting it cut off again."