A CHILDREN'S charity founded in Hereford which helps restore the confidence of youngsters with cancer his reached a significant milestone.

The Little Princess Trust provides real-hair wigs for children who have lost their hair because of cancer treatment and has this week given away its 3,000th.

The charity was set-up in 2006 following the death of five-year-old Hereford Cathedral Junior School pupil Hannah Tarplee.

Hannah's mother, Wendy Tarplee-Morris, said she couldn't have imagined the charity would be so successful.

"We funded the very first wig with money which Hannah’s school and other parents had raised in her memory," she said.

"We never could have dreamed that we would one day have funded such a tremendous amount of wigs and helped so many children.

"I feel extremely proud and humbled by the huge amount of support that we have received in order to achieve this. "The service that we provide really can make such a difference and I am so grateful that we have been able to support so many."

The charity is still based in Hereford, on Castle Street, but supplies wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland.

As well as those being treated for cancer the charity also helps out youngsters with other illnesses.

Trust bosses say in the past five years, the charity has seen the supply of wigs almost quadruple while hair donations have "increased exponentially".

It receives requests for wigs for children every day, either from oncology centres or through direct contact with a family.

Simon Tarplee, Hannah's father, said news of the 3,000th wig was "truly humbling".

"Reaching this milestone means so much to everyone involved with the charity," he said.

"I remember the first wig we gave away like it was yesterday and back then I would never in my wildest dreams have believed the charity could grow to what it is today.

"(It is) a truly humbling day for the Little Princess Trust.”

The Trust often receives cards and letters from children and families that have been helped by the charity, telling of the positive impact receiving a free real hair wig has had.

As well as financial donations, the charity also receives donations of hair which can be manufactured into wigs to be given to children.

The wigs, which are given out free, are also free to the charity.