A 10-YEAR-OLD Darwen St John Ambulance volunteer treated a young road accident victim just weeks after starting a course in first-aid.

Now Alex McFadden has received an award for his actions from Princess Anne at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Alex joined the Tower Badger Sett - a branch of the St John Ambulance for children aged five to 10 based in George Street, Darwen - in October 2005.

Just five weeks later, he witnessed an accident with his mum, also called Alex, in Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn.

A 12-year-old boy had been involved in a crash with two cars. Alex went to the aid of the boy and a driver of one of the cars.

His mum said: "Alex was nine at the time he went up to the 12-year-old boy who had injuries to his legs and was in shock.

"Alex was really calm. The injured boy was in shock, he wouldn't tell Alex his name but he found out which school he went to.

"Alex kept talking to him, and found out his name and a number for his mum.

"He did a really good job, he was so calm. I admired him for what he had done.

"The driver of one vehicle was an elderly man. Alex went up to his car and said, Because you are old I have to ask you if you have heart problems.' "St John Ambulance has helped Alex.

"It has given him a great deal of confidence. He was really apprehensive when he first joined but made lots of friends in seconds."

On her son receiving the young achievers and carers award and meeting royalty, Alex's mum, of Highfield Gardens, Blackburn, said: "He said he wasn't nervous because she's only a human being.

"He has taken this all in his stride. He was completely unphased when he met Princess Anne and wasn't nervous at all. I am so proud of him."

Hero Alex said: "When I heard about it I thought, why me? I did what any other human being would do for another.

"When I got the letter I felt like Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I felt like I had won the golden ticket."