A youngster has had her hair chopped off in memory of tragic Sheppey Crossing crash victim Deborah Roberts.

Rose Street primary pupil Kaitlyn Toomer was friends with her eight-year-old son Marshall, who also died in the July 2014 accident.

The nine-year-old originally came up with the idea in 2013 when Ms Roberts was battling breast cancer.

VIDEO: Kaitlyn Toomer had her hair cut at Mastercuts Hairdressers

She’d noticed how the mum-of-three had lost her hair and wanted to give her some of her own.

But it soon started to grow back so Kaitlyn didn’t get the chance.

However, last Friday she had 14 inches of her blonde hair cut off in aid of the Little Princess Trust charity.

It provides wigs and hair pieces for children who suffer hair loss due to cancer treatment.

Mum Christine, 27, who was friends with Ms Roberts, said: “Deborah used to come into the school and make a big fuss of Kaitlyn’s hair and said how beautiful it was and how she wished she had hair like it.

“When Kaitlyn saw her after the cancer treatment, she said she wanted to grow her hair and give it to Deborah.

“But when her hair started to grow back, Kaitlyn said she still wanted to grow hers for someone else who needed it.”

Tragically, Ms Roberts and Marshall were killed when their broken down car was hit by a lorry on the mainland-bound carriageway.

Miss Toomer, who works as a teaching assistant at Rose Street Primary School, added:

“Kaitlyn was really good friends with Marshall and Deborah has been her inspiration for doing this.

“From day one, Kaitlyn has been adamant she was going to do it for Deborah.

“After speaking to others who had donated hair, I found The Little Princess Trust took hair and made it into wigs for children losing theirs.

“I told Kaitlyn about it and she was really excited to do it for them, in Deborah’s memory.”

Kaitlyn – who had been growing her hair for three years – went to Mastercuts Hairdressers in Sheerness High Street.

Speaking about the youngster’s new look, Miss Toomer said: “I love it.

“It’s so pretty and Kaitlyn looks so grown up. “I cannot put into words how extremely proud of her I am. She is such a strong, sweet girl.”

Kaitlyn said: “I am very happy with it and I am happy for the child that’s going to get my hair.”

As well as donating the hair, Kaitlyn has so far raised £280 for The Little Princess Trust. To donate, visit http://bit.ly/2bflW5T