SIX-YEAR-OLD Josh Creek is a real little hero after he spotted a van on fire and got his mum to call the fire brigade.

The quick-thinking youngster noticed the Escort van, which had been torched, on Shaw Street car park in Culcheth last Thursday.

For his efforts he was invited to Birchwood Fire Station to receive a community fire safety award and firefighters showed him around and let him squirt water through a hose reel.

Leading firefighter Mark Proctor said: "Josh is to be congratulated for his awareness and quick-thinking and it is reassuring to learn first-hand that the community fire safety message is getting across and making the public more vigilant, especially the young."