A GRANDMOTHER who risked her life to save a woman from being set on fire has been honoured.

Pat Bott and her granddaughter Samantha have been presented with a national police bravery award after going to the aid of the woman they heard screaming in the street one summer morning last year.

She had been drenched in fuel and was being pinned to a fence by a man, who was holding a lighter and threatening to set her alight.

Mrs Bott, 65, called police and shouted at the man to let her go, then ran towards him as he tried to ignite the lighter.

Even though she could smell fumes of what she thought was lighter fuel or petrol, she continued to shout to distract the attacker long enough for the victim to break free and run into her garden.

As her 18-year-old granddaughter Samantha held the gate open to let the terrified victim reach the safety of the house, Mrs Bott placed herself between the attacker and his victim, shouting at him to get away and leave her alone.

As the attacker ran off, the pair calmed the victim down and helped her wash fuel from her eyes and remove her clothing which was saturated with fuel.

The pair, from Stanley in County Durham, have now been honoured for their bravery at the 50th annual National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Police and Public Bravery Awards in Manchester where Mrs Bott was presented with a silver medal and Samantha with a certificate.

Inspector Kelly Martin said: “If it wasn’t for the quick thinking and actions of Pat and Samantha, risking their own lives to lead the victim to safety, there is a very real possibility that the man would have succeeded in setting her on fire.

“Had that happened, potentially the flames could have engulfed them all, with tragic consequences.”

The attacker was jailed for 15 years for attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.