A PLUCKY schoolgirl will today receive a bravery award for saving the life of a woman who was one step away from throwing herself off a Worcester bridge.

Stephanie Dean gained the trust of the sobbing teenager before grabbing her hand and leading her to safety.

"In a twist of fate, I later found out she used to live in the same house as me," said Stephanie of Packhorse Close, College Fields, St John's, Worcester.

The 15-year-old, who attends Bowbrook House School, Peopleton, was walking across the Sabrina Bridge with a friend when she noticed the teenager was in distress.

"She was on the bar swinging and had taken off her shoes and top," said Stephanie.

"I could see deep purple scars up her arms and immediately stopped to ask her if she was OK.

"She said no and started sobbing. I started to talk to her, telling her she could trust me. But it was about five minutes before I felt it was safe to grab her hand and pull her off the bar.

"She told me she had split up with her boyfriend after he cheated on her and that she had no family support.

"I then walked her to the police station so she could speak to a counsellor as she admitted she needed help.

"As I was giving my address she said that she used to live in exactly the same house which I later found very weird.

"When I got home I was very shaken but felt I had done the right thing as there were other people around who just walked away and didn't want to get involved."

Chris Allen, deputy head of Bowbrook, said the school was very proud of her.

"Young people are all too often described as doing wrong but this is an instance of someone putting themselves out to help," he said.

Stephanie will be among 43 county youngsters due to be presented with a Good Citizens Award by the chief superintendent Patsy Lord during a ceremony at Hindlip Hall.