SISTERS from Pinvin who saved the life of a tramp lying unconscious on the railway line at Pershore railway station are to be presented with medals for bravery from the Queen.

It was on August 8 that the two, Tamie Kellard, aged 15, and her sister Charlene, 13, of Abbey View, spotted the tramp lying in a crumpled heap in the path of a train due at the station within minutes.

Quick-thinking Tamie jumped down on the track and opened his airways while Charlene flagged down a passing lorry driver to help lift him on to the platform.

The sisters, who are both members of the St John Ambulance, eased the man into the recovery position and looked after him until he was taken to Ronkswood Hospital in Worcester by ambulance.

Their names were subsequently put to the Royal Humane Society by the Chief Constable of West Mercia, but they were still stunned to hear they were to get one of the prestigious awards.

Tamie said: "When I heard, I broke down. Charlene was ecstatic. She's always in a good mood, but that day she was over the moon."

Christopher Tyler, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: "These girls were in a race against time to save the life of a man who really only had himself to blame for the predicament he was in."

He explained that Tamie became concerned for the man who she had seen sitting on a bench as she and her sister waited for the train. He suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a carrier bag of bottles. She was horrified to spot him lying on the track.

After putting into practice her first aid skills, the man began to breathe more easily before Charlene returned with help, tissues and water.