AN AWARD winning hairdresser is heading out to Uganda for a marathon hair cutting task.

Sophie Leanna Appleton-Hendy, of Llandudno in West Shore, will use her skills on children who need haircuts before being allowed to attend school.

The 21-year-old, who works at Tommy’s Hair Company and last year won gold at the Skills Show in Birmingham, will jet out to Kampala next Tuesday.

Taking with her 15 hair clippers, which have been donated by Tommy's, the former pupil of St David's College will join friend and teaching assistant Zoe Calder who has already flown out to Uganda.

Sophie said: "I will be cutting hair so children can go to school and get an education. Most of them can't afford to have their haircut and they need to have short hair to so they don't go to school for that reason - they need to have short hair to be allowed to attend.

"We are also raising money to take out there and will be taking bags full of pens, pencils and toiletries.

"I'm so excited, I can't wait to see the children. I will be there for 11 days."

Donations can be given in Tommy's in Craig-y-Don, where a raffle is also running. Visit www.tommyshaircompany.com and click on media and news to find out more about Sophie's trip.