A FOUR-year-old alopecia sufferer is ‘over the moon’ after getting new locks in time to start school.

Little Harriet Russell lost all her golden hair suddenly in just under a week at the age of two.

The youngster, from West Bradford, starts school today and her delighted parents couldn’t be happier that she now has her wig, as they feared her alopecia may have set her apart from her classmates.

After reading an article in the Lancashire Telegraph about 15-year-old Cassie Blackstock, from Rishton, the family contacted Hairoom in Bury which has given her a long light-blonde wig which will last for a year.

Harriet’s father Paul Russell, 54, an account executive, said that Harriet had shoulder-length golden hair but that one day in September last year she woke up and it had fallen out over her pillow.

Within a week the youngster’s hair had totally gone.

Her family have been told by consultants at Burnley General Hospital that there is no cure and that her hair may never grow back.

Harriet previously wore a buff, a type of head scarf that climbers often wear, wrapped around her head.

Her mum, Emma Russell, 43, a teaching assistant at Salesbury School, Blackburn, said: “Harriet has been so excited she is over the moon. She has been telling everyone that she is going to have new hair.

“She can’t wait to put lots of clips in it and have it in all different styles. We were asked what she would like, Harriet said she didn’t want a fringe but wanted long light blonde hair with layers at the side. Her sister has long hair and she can’t wait to look like her.

“We couldn’t have asked for better timing. As a young girl she is starting to get self-conscious about her looks and children at nursery ask why she doesn’t have hair.”