A MAN reprimanded by a charity has been given a hero's welcome by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Russ Watson pitched in to help rescue victims of the floods which hit Skinningrove last autumn and was hailed a hero by trapped residents.

But the St John Ambulance officer-in-charge was reprimanded by a superior for lifting and carrying sand bags.

He and his wife, Becky, dramatically walked out on superiors at a presentation evening last year - followed by 50 members of the East Cleveland division, many of them in tears.

Now, Russ, 34, has been among 200 special guests invited to Downing Street for their selfless help during last year's floods crisis.

Mr Blair asked Mr Watson what he did to help Skinnin-grove during the emergency.

His wife, Cherie, wrote a message to Mrs Watson, on the back of her husband's invitation which read: "To Becky, sorry you couldn't be here, regards Cherie Blair."

Accompanying Russ were Sheila Guilfoyle, who kept open her twice-flooded post office at Skinningrove, Zohrah Zancudi, Redcar and Cleveland's principal floods officer, and Police Sergeant Richard Schofield