A WORCESTER schoolgirl met stars of showbusiness and sport at an awards ceremony celebrating some of Britain’s bravest children.

McAyla Johnston got to meet singer Peter Andre, former boxing champion Joe Calzaghe and X-Factor twins John and Edward during the presentation of an award for the courage she has shown while recovering from a life-threatening collision with a car.

The Nunnery Wood High School pupil also got to meet the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street before she was presented with the Sheer Courage award at yesterday’s 36th Woman’s Own Children of Courage Awards at Westminster Abbey, London.

Dad David Lamb, of Foxwell Street, off London Road, said the day had been an “amazing” and “overwhelming” experience.

“It was very emotional but McAyla loved it,” he said.

“There were so many children there that have got stories and that just made you feel very humble.

“McAyla was presented with her award by Peter Andre and she just thought all of her Christmases had come at once. She was beaming from ear to ear.

“There was just celebrity after celebrity and they were coming up to her and asking to have photos taken with her. She was getting all of their autographs.”

Mr Lamb said they had lunch with Vanessa Feltz but added McAyla, aged 12, enjoyed meeting Peter Andre the most.

“That was the bees-knees for her,” he said. “He was such a genuine bloke and she was very happy.”

We previously reported in your Worcester News how McAyala was knocked down by a car on London Road while trying to get to the Tesco Express store on Sunday, September 7, last year – the day before she was due to start secondary school.

The accident left McAyla in a critical condition with her family fearing for her life.

Although she has made a miraculous recovery since – she has returned to school on a part-time basis – she still suffers from symptoms related to brain injury, such as memory loss, and has to walk with the aid of a stick.

However, with the help of her family, friends and members of the public, she has helped to successfully campaign for the installation of new £70,000 crossings at the busy junction of London Road, Wyld’s Lane and Sebright Avenue.

They were unveiled just days before the first anniversary of the accident.