BRAVE little Courtney Taylor has been hailed a heroine after saving her and her mum's life using the fire safety skills she learnt in the Brownies.

The quick-thinking nine-year-old from the 1st Moreton Brownies used a rolled up towel to stop choking smoke pouring under a door when fire broke out at her Moreton home two weeks ago.

Using techniques taught to her while taking her Brownies fire safety badge last year, she got mum Daphne, 39, to get down on the floor and crawl to the upstairs window of the cottage, which is set back off Moreton High Street.

As the cottage filled with hot acrid smoke at just after 4am on Wednesday, February 15, Mrs Taylor called the fire service from her mobile phone before climbing out of the window and persuading Courtney to jump with her.

The pair were treated at Cheltenham General Hospital for smoke inhalation and Courtney sprained her ankle.

This week Courtney and her mum visited Moreton Fire Station to say thanks to some of the firefighters who helped rescue them Mrs Taylor recalled the night of the fire.

"We had gone to bed as normal. I woke up at about 4am. I heard glass breaking and went downstairs.

"I saw the fire and went back upstairs. I admit I was hysterical but Courtney tried to keep me calm. She said Mummy, this is what we have to do. Get down on the floor and cover your face'.

"It was getting so hot we couldn't stand it any longer. I said we've got to jump out of the window. She was a bit scared but I got out of the window and clung on and she climbed over me and we fell together.

"She's my brave little girl. She was amazing and deserves a bravery award. I'm so proud of her and so is her dad."

Courtney, who also managed to save her cats, Truffle and Shadow, and her favourite doll Daisy, said: "Mummy was very scared and I was scared. I told her what to do."

Moreton station commander Alan Wallace, whose crew members David Ledbetter and Byran Gregory helped Courtney gain her fire safety badge, praised the youngster.

"Courtney remembered what she had learnt. It shows that young people take it on board and use it. They were very lucky to get out," he said.

Courtney, a year 4 pupil at St David's School in Moreton, was presented with a special certificate in recognition of her bravery at Brownies on Monday. (Feb 25) Brown Owl Lois Dudfield said: "She showed a lot of courage and initiative.

"It's funny, you don't realise how much notice they are taking. It's just incredible what she did and makes you realise how important what we do is."

She now plans to hold annual fire safety refresher courses for the Brownies.

Police are no longer investigating the cause of the fire.