BOLTON heroine Betty Powell has died at the age of 81.

Widow Mrs Powell, of Parkfield Road, Great Lever, died in the early hours of Tuesday after a short illness.

A Bolton nurse and home help before she retired, Mrs Powell was featured in the BEN 17 years ago for an act of bravery.

She received a top award for risking her life to rescue a neighbour from a house fire.

The drama happened while she was on holiday at a friend's house in Lytham.

She suffered severe burns to her hands as she tried to save the life of an elderly woman who had fallen onto a fire and set her clothing ablaze in a nearby house. The pensioner died later in hospital.

Mrs Powell was commended for her courageous action and a bravery certificate was presented to her by the then Mayor of Bolton, Cllr John Hanscomb.

Many of her relatives live within walking distance of her Great Lever home which she shared with her dog, Kim, for many years. The funeral will be held at Overdale on Monday and her ashes will be taken to join her husband's in Lytham, where they once lived.

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