Child's First Haircut of the Day

Five-year-old Rean Carter of Sunderland is being compelled to get his very first haircut by kids at school who refuse to quit taunting him for "looking like a girl."

According to Rean's mum, Leeanne Smith, the tyke has simply grown "sick" of being teased by boys at school. She said his long, flowing locks were never an issue for him until his school made him tie his hair back for "health and safety" reasons.

"Some of the other little boys began to make fun," said Smith. "They said he could not play with them because he looked like a girl."

The thought of having to cut off his hair made Rean cry, but though the family barber was instructed "not to take too much off," the boy specifically requested a "spiky" 'do.

The haircut won't be for naught: Rean is collecting sponsorship funds from friends and family, which he will donate to the Sunderland Royal Hospital's children's unit. Rean spent some time there in 2010 after he contracted impetigo.

[bbc.]