Samuel Phillips's quick thinking and love of TV 999 shows saved the day when he discovered his mother had collapsed.

The six-year-old calmly phoned for an ambulance when he could not wake up his mother, Wendy, at the family home in Worthing.

Mrs Phillips had passed out on the settee after suffering from the combined effects of exhaustion and a chest infection.

Samuel checked Mrs Phillips's breathing and realised something was wrong so phoned for help.

Mrs Phillips woke up to find a paramedic looking down at her and was taken to Worthing Hospital for a check-up before being discharged.

Samuel, who loves programmes such as the BBC's 999, says he wants to be a paramedic when he is older.

He was yesterday presented with a certificate of honour from Sussex Ambulance Service for his actions.

He was also taken on a tour of the service's headquarters in Lewes before being driven to Shoreham Airport and shown around the paramedic helicopter based there.

A spokesman said: "Samuel is a very clever boy and did exactly the right thing."