Woman hasn't cut hair for 50 years

Jean Burgess decided to let her hair down to celebrate her 70th birthday - all five and a half feet of it. The pensioner hasn't had a trim for more than fifty years.

In fact, the last time she had her hair cut was 1953 when she was photographed beside the Lily of the Valley her father was helping to grow especially for the Queen's wedding bouquet. When she saw the picture, she hated it so much she vowed never to cut it again. And she has stuck to her word despite having to spend two-and-a-half hours to combing her hair, 45 minutes to wash it and 24 hours for it to drip dry.

Jean, from Sevenoaks in Kent, who has five children, said: "Since then I've worn it in a tight bun so not many people knew quite how long it was and I only take it down twice a year to give it a wash with baby shampoo. It's the best product for stopping it getting tangled which is great as it takes between two and three hours to comb as it is!



"People think washing it every six months means it's dirty but it's in great condition as your hair is designed to clean itself with natural oils. These people who wash theirs everyday are destroying it."

However, the future of her treasured locks remains in doubt. She revealed: "It's thinned over the years and I had made myself a secret pledge that I would have it all cut off for my 70th.

"But now my 70th is here I'm just not sure I'll be able to go through with it. My grandchildren would never forgive me - after all it's my party piece"