A courageous Runcorn schoolboy hailed a hero for rescuing his sister and brother from a crash has been praised by his head teacher.

Ethan Watkins, aged eight, helped his three-year-old sister, Isobel, and six-year-old brother, Daniel scramble out of the smashed rear window of their car after it was involved in a collision with a bus.

Both vehicles ended up wedged in a bush in Norton Lane, shortly after 8am on Tuesday, February 28.

His dad, Gaz, from Sandymoor suffered head injuries, but managed to escape from the crushed car.

Daniel was flown to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with a fractured hip but brothers have now returned to school.

Jan McDonald, head teacher of Moore Primary School, said: “Ethan is such a sensible and caring young man, it would be second nature for him to think of others.

“We were not surprised to hear that he was heard thanking everyone who helped get them out of the car as his manners are impeccable.

“All the staff and pupils were really concerned about the boys so it is lovely to have Ethan and Daniel back in school now.”