A nine-year-old boy often mistaken for a girl and known to his friends as “princess” because of his long hair has shaved his head for charity.

After seeing the care provided to his ailing granddad by Pilgrim’s Hospices about two years ago, Max Smith hoped to raise £500 for the cause.

His hair was cut in front of all of his peers at Hampton Primary School on Monday.

Max’s mum, Frances Smith, said: “All the pupils really supported him.

"His teachers and I took it in turns to cut off his hair and then his head was shaved to a grade one.

“He looks very different – I won’t see him in a crowd anymore because I’ll still be looking for long hair.”

Max’s friends from the Rising Stars Football Club told him they will stop calling him “princess” and instead nickname him “prince” after the cut.

According to his mum, Max will be keeping his hair short from now on.

She added: “I don’t think he’ll want it to be long again because he’s a nine-year-old boy and he’s had to put up with people calling him a girl for so long.”

He has already exceeded his £500 target by more than £350 and his locks will be given to the Little Princess Trust.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/teams/maxhaircut.