A SCHOOLBOY who rushed to the aid of a pensioner being mugged in a Wirral park has been praised for his bravery.

Carl Kelly, a year eight pupil from The Mosslands School in Wallasey, was a first hand witness to the incident in Vale Park, New Brighton, last March.

The 11-year-old, who lives in Wallasey, had been playing with friends and younger brother Sean, when the woman, out walking her dogs, was approached by a man who pushed her to the ground and stood on her back, before stealing her handbag.

Due to the precise description Carl gave police the mugger was arrested a short distance from the park.

He said: "My friends and I chased the man and I called the police and waited with the lady until they arrived."

"I was asked to go to Bebington police station to make a statement and had to go to Liverpool to identify the man. I also gave video evidence in court.”

The victim, who is in her 70s, was left extremely shaken by the ordeal and has since said that the prompt actions of Carl and his friends helped her to come to terms with it.

Rusty Keane, chair of the North Wirral Crime Prevention Panel, visited the school for a special assembly and to present Carl with a certificate in recognition of ‘a young person’s commitment to community’ and a £25 WH Smith gift voucher.

She said: “I sometimes have to have words with youngsters in Vale Park for behaving badly, so it is fantastic to award someone for doing a good deed.

“Carl is a credit to his family, The Mosslands School and the whole Wallasey community.”

Carl’s mum, Angela Kelly, said: “We are very proud of what Carl did, nowadays bad things happen and people walk by, which Carl didn’t do.”