Gymnasts and coaches showed they were a cut above the rest when they donated 64 inches of their hair to charity after getting their ponytails snipped on Wednesday.

The hair will be sent to Locks of Love, a charity which accepts hair donations of at least ten inches and makes them into wigs for financially needy children with hair loss due to medical conditions or treatment.

Headway salon owner Alison Williams and stylist Liz Ward helped out with the cutting at their Washington Street store.

Bermuda Gymnastics team member Hannah King, 13, suggested the idea last year and coaches Tina Billington and Michelle Strenk and other gymnasts signed up but everyone's hair grew at different speeds.

Hannah's hair was long enough in September, 2004 and had to be trimmed because it was becoming a menace on the four-inch balance beam.

This year Michelle, Tina and ten-year-old gymnast Jessica Preuss had long enough ponytails and were ready for the big plunge along with Jessica's older sister Lisa, 12.