TWO dogs saved an elderly woman after she fell into a brook in a Herefordshire village.

On a cold dark afternoon last December, a 999 call was made after an elderly lady who had accidentally fallen from the unlit footpath beside the church, some 10 feet down a steep bank into the Dulas Brook.

Nobody heard her cry for help, and her plight was undiscovered until a local man, Ben Roden, who was walking his dogs nearby was alerted by their pulling him to the edge of the bank where he could see the lady in the water.

He raised the alarm at the village shop where the 999 call was made.

Mr Roden and shop assistant Rachel Mailes then climbed down to the lady, Lorna Hollom, who was lying in the water with severe fractures to her leg and also an injured shouder.

Another local, Archie Gemmel, also climbed down and they tried to make her more comfortable until professional help arrived.

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Ewyas Harold fire and rescue team carried out a very tricky rescue and, with the help of the river rescue unit, Mrs Hollom was stretchered to the ambulance and taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

After a three-month stay in hospital, she returned home where she continues to improve slowly and is now able to get out and about again with help.

Mr Roden's dogs, Rambo and Honey, without whom the story would have likely been very different, have now been recognised by the PDSA, who granted them a Commendation Award for saving a person’s life.

At a special ceremony in the village on October 1, Mr Roden, Rambo, and Honey were presented with the award and Mrs Hollom had the opportunity to thank him, Rachel, Archie and the local fire and rescue service under station commander Catherine Chesworth.

Thanks to the two dogs, Rambo and Honey, this story had a happy ending!