A Romanian woman who has been growing her hair since she was 16 has weaved an entire wardrobe from her own lengthy locks.

71-year-old Ioana Cioanca allowed her hair to reach 40 inches in length before she chopped it off and used it on the loom.

Cioanca, of Bistrita Nasaud, said: “Long years I had to wait for my hair to grow so as to make clothes from it but I managed and I am very pleased now.

“Maybe there are other women who did this but I don’t know if they have so many items. I have nine of them: a hat, a shawl, a skirt, a blouse, a raincoat, a purse, a handbag and a pair of gloves.”

According to Ananova, the pensioner described the finished garments as “quite warm and comfortable”.