A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy has been hailed a hero after wading into a bog to rescue four young children who had sunk in the mud.

Ben Hindle was playing at the back of the Harwood House pub near his home, in Railway Terrace, Great Harwood, when he stumbled across the children.

They had been playing near a tunnel where the ground is very boggy and had got stuck. The youngsters were shouting and screaming for help.

Ben's mum, Michelle Macro, 40, said: "He apparently took his shoes and socks off, rolled his trousers up and waded in to pull two of the children out.

"Their shoes were left behind in the bog."

Someone had run to the children's mother for help and she arrived in time to help pull the other two children out.

Michelle said: "He came back home with filthy socks, shoes and pants and said 'Mum, it wasn't my fault!' "The mum of the children he helped came to tell me what happened and explain that he hadn't got into any trouble."

She added: "He could have seriously injured himself and he can get a bit frightened sometimes, but I think it was just instant courage that made him do it.

"I told him off for going down there in the first place, but I am so proud of him. He has been telling everybody and seems pretty proud of himself too!"

Ben, who goes to St John's Primary School, in Great Harwood, said he wasn't scared, he just wanted to help his friends.

He said: "There were three girls and one boy. There were only two I could help out and their shoes were missing so I went back in to get them.

"They were my friends and they were sinking in the mud their feet were going down and down.

"Their mum thanked me for helping and drove me home. I felt good helping them and my mum was pleased with me too."