A GIRL who fought desperately to save her mother from being stabbed to death by her mentally ill father has received an award for her extraordinary bravery.

Rebecca Mayhew, from Bishop Auckland, was 11 when she stopped the savage attack on her mother, Ailsa, in November 2007.

Last night, she was one of 67 people awarded medals at the National Police Public Bravery Awards in Manchester.

Those gathered heard how Rebecca watched in horror as her father plunged a hunting knife into Rebecca’s mother’s chest and cut her across the stomach.

Rebecca courageously placed herself between the two and suffered cuts to her hands as she wrestled the blade from her father’s grip.

She threw the weapon from the house and prevented him getting another knife from the kitchen drawer, despite her mother’s screams to save herself.

The schoolgirl then held the 49-year-old back as her mother, bleeding heavily, staggered to a neighbour’s home, where the alarm was raised.

Her father, John, an alcoholic who suffers from mental health problems, was sentenced to 12 years in jail for attempted murder at Teesside Crown Court after Rebecca gave a detailed account to police.

Durham Police Chief Constable Jon Stoddart commended Rebecca’s heroism, and said: “Rebecca’s actions saved her mother’s life. Her courage in the face of such violence was simply extraordinary.

It was a selfless act that is an example to us all and this award is well-deserved.”

Others to receive awards included people who tackled knifemen, intervened in armed robberies, hauled people from burning cars and a woman who flung herself in front of an out-of-control rottweiler to protect a baby.

Awards secretary Meredydd Hughes, the chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, said: “It is pleasing to be able to formally thank those public-spirited people who have assisted the police in fighting crime in the community. They are to be commended for their courage and for being an example to us all.”