A student seconds from death was saved by the quick actions of neighbours.

Nicola Robson, 21, collapsed in the arms of her next door neighbour, after suffering an asthma attack. Moments later she stopped breathing.

Eventually the combined efforts of three of her neighbours from the village of Burnopfield - as well as a calm telephone operator from Durham police headquarters - saved Miss Robson's life.

Now Gillain Haug, John Alexander and Margaret Hope, plus telephone operator Helen Metcalf, have received a national award for their actions last September.

First on the scene was Gillian Haug, a 39-year-old florist who lives next door to Miss Robson in Park Terrace.

She said she heard a commotion and ran next door, where Miss Robson slumped in her arms. She stopped breathing and eventually lost her pulse.

As Mrs Haug, who has been trained in first aid, battled to save Nicola's life she was joined by neighbour Margaret Hope, who is a housewife. Firefighter John Alexander, 42, from nearby Dean View, who was out walking his dog, also stopped to help.

In the frenzy, an incomplete emergency call was made to Helen Metcalf at Durham police station.

She rang back and gave Mrs Haug advice so that she could give heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resusitation to the victim.

Miss Robson was eventually taken to Dryburn Hospital, in Durham, by paramedics who later said that Miss Robson could have died if she had arrived two minutes later.

She went on to make a full recovery from the attack and complete her environmental sciences degree.

Miss Robson said: "I can't remember anything about it. I remember feeling really short of breath and the next thing I remember I was in a hospital bed.

"Of course, I can't thank everyone who helped me enough for what they did."

Her mother, June Robson, said: "We have great close neighbours. I'm just glad that those people were there."

But, after receiving certificates of commendation from the St John Ambulance, Mrs Haug said: "At the time we all just got on with it. It's not until afterwards that you turn into a nervous wreck."