A teenager who helped save the life of a toddler who had been in collision with a cyclist has been honoured with a prestigious award.

Charley Moore, 13, was walking home from The Gilberd School in Colchester on September 13 last year when she saw a young boy in collision with a cyclist on the pavement.

He collapsed and stopped breathing and Charley, who was 12 at the time, went over to help.

She told his mother to phone for an ambulance and gave him CPR.

Charley, who lives in New Town, Colchester, had learned basic first aid on a one-day course at Highwoods Community Primary School.

She said: “I was walking down Ipswich Road and I had just left my friend.

“I saw a little boy with his mum and she had a pushchair with a girl in it.

“I then saw a cyclist hit the little boy who fell to the ground. His mum was really panicking.

“I said to her ‘ring the ambulance and I will sort it out’.”

Charley found his chest was not rising and falling and could not feel any breath on her face.

She added: “I did CPR and he started to breathe again.

“It felt like I was doing it for a minute or so.

“His mum came off the phone and I told her he had started breathing again and she said ‘thank you’.”

A few minutes later the ambulance arrived and the boy and his family were taken to Colchester General Hospital.

Unfortunately Charley did not get the chance to ask the boy’s name and despite appeals for the family to get in touch, no-one has yet come forward.

In honour of her quick-thinking, Charley has been awarded a St John Ambulance Young First Aider of the Year award.

She said: “I am so pleased to have been given this award, but I do think I only did what anyone else would have done.

“Having the first aid training at school meant I knew what to do and I think more people should learn this useful skill.”

Proud mother Jade Berry, 30, added: “She really doesn’t see what the fuss is about but I’m so proud of her. “She saved a young boy’s life which is really amazing.

“I’d also like to thank Highwoods Community Primary School for making sure she learned first aid which is such an important skill to have.”

The award was presented at a ceremony at St John Ambulance’s historic headquarters in London on Saturday.