A schoolboy who defied taunts from his playground peers to grow his hair long like Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is chopping it off for charity.
Keen football player Harley Nurton, 12, has 20-inch long locks after refusing to get his hair cut for three years.
The young boy, who was initially was trying to emulate his footballing hero Gareth Bale by tying it in a manbun, bravely laughed off the mocking from his schoolmates.
His tormentors have now changed their tune, dubbing Harley ‘the Viking’ after his long blonde locks bore a strong resemblance to the Norwegian ace Erling Haalnd.
Harley said: ‘I didn’t think it would get to this length! I got some comments about my long hair when I started high school this year but it didn’t bother me that much.
Harley Nurton, 12, is cutting of his long blonde hair for charity
The schoolboy’s hair reached an unbelievable length of 20 inches after not having it cut for over three years
Harley’s tormentors have since changed their tune, after his hair started to resemble that of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (pictured)
‘My teammates in the Pontypridd United academy call me ‘the Viking’.’
Kind-hearted Harley, of Cardiff, will donate his blonde locks to the Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides free wigs to 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren who have lost their own hair through cancer.
Harley said he is looking forward to the chop, saying: ‘I’m gonna look like skinhead Rooney.
‘I’m feeling good because it’ll get a lot of weight off my head, I’ll stop having headaches!
‘And it will take less time to brush and wash so I’ll get to stay in bed longer before school.’
Harley’s mother, Carla Bishop, said: ‘It’s a lot of hair to be cut and left on the hairdresser’s floor, so we had a look together at charities and found the Little Princess Trust.
Kind-hearted Harley, of Cardiff, will donate his blonde locks to the Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides free wigs to 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren who have lost their own hair through cancer
‘It feels quite unique when 90 per cent of donations are girls with long hair. Harley’s the kind of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 who’s not afraid to be different and he’s such a loving, kind, caring boy. I’m so very proud of him.’
Harley is having his sponsored haircut this weekend and is raising money for the same charity.
Carla said: ‘The original target was £550 because that’s what it costs to make the wig, but within three days or so we reached that.
‘Harley’s got a lot of hair but I don’t think we’re going to get two wigs out of it. I thought it would be lovely to help another 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 by putting money towards another wig.’
