THREE young girls have been commended by the East of England Ambulance Service for the care they showed to a pensioner.

Ten-year-olds Sydnie Davis and Molly Thompson, and 12-year-old Claire Robinson, were playing near their homes off Daiglen Drive in South Ockendon when they saw an elderly lady struggling to walk.

The girls helped the pensioner to her front door, and when she was unable to lift her shopping trolley they helped her inside and brought the trolley in for her.

They made her comfortable then left, but once outside they became concerned that she would not cope on her own and called 999 for help.

Sydnie said: "We thought we better help her as she looked like she needed some help. “When we left her we talked about it and thought we better ring 999.

“We were given some instructions over the phone and we waited for the ambulance service to turn up so that we could explain what had happened."

Molly added: "We learnt about using 999 at school after a talk from the emergency services, and we've had to do it once before so we weren't nervous about doing it."

Paramedic Paul Jenner, who attended the incident on Monday April 20, said: “When I arrived, the girls apologised to me saying that they hoped that they hadn't done anything wrong by calling us out. I assured them that they were right to call us out, and thanked them for all their help.

“I could not get any answer from the patient’s house, and the girls told me that the lady was very deaf.”

Paul asked Chelmsford control staff to request police to gain entry but while he was waiting, a carer turned up and gained access.

The pensioner was fine although a little tired, she could not believe that the girls had been that concerned about her and asked paramedic Paul to thank them for her.

Paul presented the girls with their certificates of commendation yesterday.

He added: “These are without doubt three of the most polite girls that I have ever had the fortune to meet.”