The friend of a pop star who died of cancer last month shaved off her waist-length hair on Friday to raise money for Clapham's Trinity Hospice.

Dianne Clark, 39, of New Cross, became a skinhead after growing her locks for seven years, when Matt Sargent of punk band Sham 69 shaved her head at Clapham Old Town's Prince of Wales pub.

She underwent the charity head-shave as a thank you to the Clapham Common hospice for the care it gave her friend Kelly Johnson, lead guitarist in Wandsworth-based all-female 80s heavy metal band Girlschool.

Ms Johnson had been battling spine cancer for six years before she died on July 15, aged 49.

She spent the last three and a half months of her life in Trinity Hospice. where her friends said the care the staff gave her was exceptional.

Ms Clark, who has already raised £1,100, said: "Every single person there just amazed me with how caring they were. They have to stay detached but they just didn't seem it."

Life without hair was cold at first, she said. But Girlschool member Tracey Turner said her newly bald friend had been singing Sinead O'Connor songs to keep her spirits up.

Ms Clark added: "It was weird but it feels surprisingly good, mainly because it was for such a good cause.

"Long hair didn't suit me anyway."

Girlschool were based in Isis Street, Earlsfield, for many years, where Ms Johnson and vocalist Kim McAuliffe lived. Ms Johnson quit the group in 2000.