A BRAVE teenager who foiled the attempted abduction of her four-year-old friend has told of the moment she saw off the stranger.

Little James Gibson was playing with friends near a park in Oxford Street, Thornaby, when the incident happened on Saturday morning.

He was approached by a man in his fifties, who took him by the hand and led him away. But the man was confronted by brave 13-year-old Rachel Hendry, who asked him what he was doing.

Rachel, who lives in Camelon Street, Thornaby, knew James did not live in the direction he was being taken. She took hold of the screaming child and led him home.

She said: "Even though I was scared I thought James' safety was more important."

James' mum, Christine Gibson, of Westbury Street, Thornaby, said: "For any kid to go up to a man who is obviously scary is very courageous.

"She is really brave and I will always be eternally grateful to her."

Detective Sergeant Ian Bedford, investigating the case, added: "It was a very courageous act and had this young girl not intervened the outcome may have been very different.