AN eight-year-old boy who calmly called an ambulance after his mother collapsed has won the admiration of nurses who staff an emergency help-line.

Daniel Shepherd was at home in Cragwellside, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, when his mother began to double up with pain.

"I got this terrible pain in my abdomen," said Nichola Henderson, Daniel's 28-year-old mother. "I just collapsed on the floor. I could hardly speak. I was in absolute agony."

Even though she was in a lot of pain she told Daniel not to ring for an ambulance.

"I didn't really feel I was ill enough to ring 999," she said.

"I knew about the NHS Direct help-line, so I got Daniel to get me a phone book and I looked up the number."

The pain was so intense that she was unable to dial the number.

But Daniel took over and calmly answered a string of questions when he was put through to one of the help-line's qualified nurses.

Mrs Henderson added: "He said 'I need some help, my mum is in pain', but he said the pain was in my ribs when it was actually in my abdomen."

The Springfield Primary School pupil gave the help-line enough information for the nurse to decide that an ambulance was needed.

Within a few minutes, crew members were knocking on the door and Mrs Henderson was rushed to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Fortunately, the problem was no more than a temporary pelvic inflammation and Mrs Henderson was allowed home after a night in hospital.

"I am so proud of Daniel. He is only eight, but he was marvellous," said Mrs Henderson.

After she returned home, NHS Direct contacted the family to congratulate Daniel on his coolness in an emergency.

A spokeswoman for NHS Direct said: "Daniel did extremely well. He gave us enough information to make a decision about the best way to help his mother."

NHS Direct provides a 24- hour health help-line on 0845 4647 from the Scottish borders to South Durham. It is due to be extended to Teesside and North Yorkshire in October.