KARATE kids are getting into the spirit of a hair-raising drive for charity.

Some of the 300 members of the Kidderminster-based Young Gloves Karate Club - as well as their parents - are having drastic haircuts.

The locks chopped off are being donated to the Little Princess charity, which donates wigs and hair pieces to children who have undergone chemotherapy.

Their effort will come to a crescendo on Sunday (November 23), when the club holds a karate competition at King Charles I High School, Kidderminster, from 10am to 3pm.

It is hoped the event will raise more than £3,500 for Little Princess.

At least 200 children will battle it out in the competition, organised by Young Gloves, which is run by the Shuttle's 2014 “Sports Personality of the Year” Justin Thomas.

Mr Thomas, head instructor for the Young Gloves karate club, based at schools around the Wyre Forest district, has spearheaded charity events that have raised more than £33,000 in the last 10 years.

Little Princess is the club's nominated charity for this year and money has already been raised through a barbecue and other events.

Members, who are aged from four to 16, as well as some of their mums and dads, are having at least seven inches of their tresses cut off to produce plaited hair pieces.

Mr Thomas said: “Our members are getting right behind the Little Princess, with a lot of the children and their mums and dads having hair cuts to give hair pieces to the charity for young cancer sufferers.”