A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl who led three horses to safety from a blazing barn has been awarded a certificate of merit from fire chiefs.

Amelia-May Herbert went into action when she and her parents arrived at the scene of the fire in a field at Waterhouses, near Esh Winning, County Durham, from their home at nearby Hamilton Row in February.

Her father, Stewart Herbert, said: "There were three horses standing near the entrance to the barn which was well ablaze.

"Before I could say anything, Amelia-May grabbed a lead rein from the boot of our car and jumped over the fence. She waded through mud and put the rein over the biggest of the horses and led it to a gate adjoining another field. The other two followed."

Fire brigade manager George Herbert said of Amewlia-May, who attends Our Lady Queen of Martyr's RC Primary School, Esh Winning: "Without thought for her own safety she climbed the perimeter fence, approached the horses, and placed a head halter on to them and led them to a place of safety for the remainder of the incident.

"Amelia-May acted in the true traditions of the fire service and is therefore worthy of one of the highest honours the fire service in this county can bestow on one of its community members - that of the Fire and Rescue Service Certificate of Merit."

Fire crews took 21 hours to deal with the incident.