A QUICK-thinking Wall Heath guide who raised the alarm after her neighbour had a fall has received an award.

Elizabeth Oldnall, of Brookside Way, was doing her homework when she heard a strange noise coming from the home of her next-door neighbour, Alan Perks.

The Summerhill School pupil, who was home alone, soon realised that the 84-year-old was calling for help.

She went outside and tried to look into his house but saw that the living room curtains were closed.

When she heard him call out again, she tried to attract the attention of builders working on a nearby house but when they didn't respond, she went to find neighbour Steve Whitehouse.

The pair then dashed back to the pensioner's house, where they found him lying on the lounge floor, distressed and injured after falling over.

Unable to physically pick him up alone, Mr Whitehouse sent Elizabeth to fetch his son Joel to assist and pick up a first aid kit.

Shortly afterwards, her mother Clare returned home and the 1st Wall Heath guide then looked after her little brother Robert while she went to help.

Sadly, Mr Perks died from an aneurysm at Russells Hall Hospital a few days later but Mrs Oldnall said thanks to Elizabeth raising the alarm, his family were able to say goodbye.

The brave youngster was recently awarded a Mercia Star, which is given to any member of Girlguiding West Mercia aged between five and 26, who has displayed great courage or fortitude or shown great initiative or responsibility at an incident.

Mrs Oldnall said: "I was flabbergasted by the way Elizabeth handled herself. It was frightening for her but she is very proud of getting the award, although she is humble about it and doesn't know what all the fuss is about."