A 10-year-old boy has been hailed a hero after his quick thinking actions helped to save a pensioner from her burning home.

Phillip Murray-Turner raised the alarm when he spotted smoke billowing from his next door neighbour's home on Bonnywell Road, Leigh.

He ran screaming to his mother Christine Murray, who then helped disabled 88-year-old Mary Matchett escape from a fire in her kitchen.

The blaze, caused by an overheated chip pan, caused severe damage to the kitchen and left the living room smoke logged.

Mrs Matchett paid tribute to her "little hero".

She said: "If it was not for Phillip, I could have died. He is a brave little boy and I will be eternally grateful to him."

Phillip was playing with friends, including seven-year- old Alex Scott, on Rugby Road, near his home, at 5pm on March 24, when he spotted smoke coming from Mrs Matchett's home. He ran round to the back of Mrs Matchett's home where he heard the pensioner shouting for help.

Ms Murray, said: "Phillip came running into the house and said 'Mum, mum, there's smoke coming from Mary's kitchen'. I tried to calm him down but he was screaming for me to help."

"I immediately ran to her home and saw there was a serious blaze in the kitchen.

"I managed to get Mary out and then rang 999. Mary has a mobility scooter and struggles to get about. If it was not for Phillip's quick thinking, I would not like to think what might have happened."

Phillip, who attends Sacred Heart Primary School, said: "It was quite scary, I had never seen a house fire before."

Mrs Matchett gave her hero an Easter egg for his brave actions.

Her home has since been redecorated with the help of family and neighbours.