ONE of Britain's youngest crimefighters was rewarded yesterday after his quick-thinking helped capture two escaped criminals.

Ryan Thorn was only nine-years-old when he spotted the pair crouching under bushes as they tried to hide from a police helicopter hovering overhead.

After alerting his grandmother, police were called and the men were soon returned to nearby Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institute at Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The youngster was given an official commendation by Durham Constabulary at a ceremony yesterday.

Chief Constable Paul Garvin said: ''It is unusual for someone so young to receive an award of this nature, but Ryan is clearly a very bright lad.

''His alertness helped bring about a swift end to what might otherwise have been a lengthy and costly police operation.''

Ryan, who lives in Cotherstone, near Barnard Castle, was out walking by the River Tees with 13-year-old sister, Emma, and their grandmother Shirley Thorn, when he spotted the men trying to stay out of sight.

He told his grandmother what he had seen and she guessed the pair were on the run. She in turn found a builder, who was working nearby, and asked him to ring the police.

Ryan, now 11, was a pupil at Cotherstone Junior school, when the drama happened in February last year. He starts Teesdale Comprehensive School next month.

His mother, Ann Thorn, said: ''Ryan and Emma had noticed the police helicopter in the air and thought something was up.

''We were told last year Ryan was being put forward for an award but we thought nothing more of it until we heard officially a couple of weeks ago. It's quite an honour for him.''

The two inmates - who absconded from a working party outside the prison gates - had previous convictions for vehicle theft and police were concerned they would attempt to steal a car to get back to their homes in the Cleveland area.

A search had been under way involving local officers, traffic crews, police dogs, and the North East Air Support Unit.

The award is run by the Association of Chief Police Officers to honour individuals whose bravery or quick-thinking has helped prevent crime or has aided police.