A TEENAGER said she was “shocked and surprised” to win an award for saving her neighbours from a house fire.

Yasmin Nice, 14, was getting ready for bed when she spotted flames in the upstairs window of her neighbour’s home in Innes Close, Wickford.

She yelled down to her parents and dad Matthew, 42, dashed outside to help the Sayer family to safety.

Earlier this week Yasmin, who attends Beuchamps High School, Wickford, was handed a prestigious Jack Petchey Achievement Award.

The teenager had been preparing for bed when she noticed the fire in her neighbour’s house, which turned out to be metres from where two young children were sleeping.

The children’s mum Sharon Sayer, 45, was downstairs in the living room oblivious to the blaze as her smoke alarms had not gone off.

Yasmin’s dad, who was left badly scarred after suffering an electric shock of 11,000 volts in 2002, got the family out and even went back to rescue the dogs.

Mr Nice managed to extinguish the flames before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Speaking after the incident, he said: “Yasmin was absolutely terrified, but it doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened if she hadn’t noticed the fire.”

Yasmin said she was humbled to receive the Jack Petchey Award.

She added: “When I found out I had won the award, I was really surprised, because so many other children had been nominated for doing some really good things.

“I was over the moon to get the award.”

Yasmin’s mum Sarah has heaped praise on her brave husband and daughter.

She said: “I am so proud of them both. When I saw the fire, I was absolutely terrified because I did not realise how bad it was and I was scared for my husband.

“But his first thought was for the family and the two young kids.

“My husband suffered burns in an accident and volunteers with a charity that supports burns victims.

“He knows how bad it can be and he just did not want anyone else to suffer those kinds of injuries. I am very proud of my daughter, she is the type of person who would help anyone.”

Yasmin has spent her £200 awardmoney in the maths department on Key Stage 4 games and resources.