HERO 12-year-old Andrew Jackson met Prime Minister Tony Blair today as "a child of courage" after saving his younger brother who became engulfed in a fireball.

Brave Andrew went to No 10 to meet the Prime Minister with 10 other children including a survivor of the Omagh bomb outrage and a young girl who lost her foot after being caught in a blast while on holiday in South Africa.

Tony Blair and wife Cherie welcomed the youngsters as they arrived today for the 1998 Woman's Own Children of Courage awards.

The Prime Minister spoke to Andrew asking him about the incident last April when the Harper Green High School pupil had remembered basic skills taught by his fireman dad to put out flames engulfing his brother Ashley. Eleven-year-old Ashley, a pupil at Cherry Tree Primary School, had become a human fireball when his tracksuit bottoms were set alight by a blast of flame which blew back from a living room gas fire at their cousin's home in Farnworth.

Quick-thinking Andrew caught up with his brother as he tried to flee the flames, pulled him to the floor and rolled him from side to side to smother the fire.

Andrew, helped by cousin Adam Miller, then cut away Ashley's molten clothing with scissors and phoned for the emergency services.

Andrew and Ashley, whose legs were severely burned, were in London with proud parents Joanne, 30, and Tony, 31, who is himself a fireman.

Andrew, of Derwent Road, Farnworth, also gave a bible reading today in Westminster Abbey in front of hundreds of dignitaries and celebrities, including Lady Thatcher, who sat next to mum Joanne.

Today grandmother Jeannette Powell, who is looking after the couple's other two younger children, Jordan and Lewis, spoke of the family's pride.

She said: "Andrew's the best thing since sliced bread. But for him rolling Ashley over like that we don't like to think what could've happened. Ashley was just like a fire torch. We all think he is a hero, we are so incredibly proud."

Mrs Powell, aged 45, also praised Ashley, who fought for life at Booth Hall Children's Hospital intensive care for four days after the accident.

Specialists had to graft skin in a three-hour operation from unaffected parts of his legs on to damaged areas and he will have to wear special trousers for two years to help heal the wounds.

Mrs Powell said: "His skin was just hanging off. I broke my heart every time I went to see him. It's still a mess on his legs, but he's been very brave.

"For a young lad to go through all that and still come out smiling is a marvel."

The family have been staying in an all-expenses paid, luxury London hotel and are having dinner at the House of Lords later today with the other "children of courage" from around the country. Mrs Powell added: "After all that's happened, the two have bonded very strongly. They want to do everything together now.

"This is a once in a life-time day neither of them will forget. Andrew deserves this, he really does."

Andrew has already been praised by fire chiefs in Bolton and given awards, including a bravery award presented by Cllr Don Eastwood.

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