Parents HAIR BOBBLE warning for children: Five-year-old's hair DYED by hair tie
A LITTLE girl had to have her blonde locks chopped off after a hair bobble dyed her hair RED.
Ella Brannigan, from Solihull, West Midlands, was forced to cut her blonde tresses after the hair tie stained her hair when she was in a paddling pool.
The five-year-old felt "embarrassed" by the ordeal which has left her with a bob-style cut after 12 inches of her hair was cut off.
Her mother Jodie Brannigan, 34, said Ella eventually wanted to donate her hair to charity and is now devastated she cannot.
Ms Brannigan said: "She's very embarrassed by the whole thing.
"She had lovely long hair, past her shoulders, which she wanted to cut for charity.
"This has really upset her."
The youngster was playing in a friend's paddling pool in July when she was wearing the patterned scrunchie.
According to Ms Brannigan, the paddling pool had no chlorine in it and when she took the bobble out, she noticed Ella's hair was stained red.
In the end we cut her hair. I was so angry, but it was the only way
Ms Brannigan said: "I saw red patches in Ella's hair and tried everything to get it out but I couldn't.
"We washed it so many times but then we were told we'd have to strip her hair to get the colour out.
"In the end we cut her hair. I was so angry, but it was the only way."
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Ms Brannigan said Ella wanted to donate her long hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity which makes wigs for children undergoing cancer.
She added: "She wanted to donate her hair, but not yet, so she's very upset.
"This should never have happened."
The hair bobble was purchased from an Asda store.
A spokesperson for Asda said: "We are sorry to hear about this incident.
"This absolutely shouldn't have happened and we've been investigating with our supplier.
"We have offered Ms Brannigan a gesture of goodwill and thank her for her patience while we look into what could have caused this."