An eight-year-old girl from South Woodham Ferrers has been recognised with a top award for her bravery during a fire in her kitchen.

Grace Harding, from Elmwood Primary School, is South Woodham Ferrers' newest fire safety marshal after receiving the honour due to her bravery

The award is one of the highest that Essex County Fire and Rescue Service can give to children, and means Grace will be tasked with sharing her fire safety advice with family and friends.

The fire took place while Grace was at home with her dad last summer.

She discovered the developing fire in the kitchen and acted quickly to alert her dad, telling him they needed to get out of their home and call 999.

Crews from South Woodham Ferrers who extinguished the fire praised Grace for her fast response.

She told firefighters she had learned what to do from their advice during a visit to her school earlier in the year.

Dan Wastell, station manager at South Woodham Ferrers Fire Station, said Grace should be "very proud of herself".

He said: "What Grace's story highlights is the huge importance of the work undertaken by both our frontline crews and prevention teams in educating our communities of the risks associated with fire.

"In utilising what she had learnt, and in what would have been undoubtedly a very scary situation, Grace's quick thinking and actions ensured the safety of both herself and her family."