TWO teachers and a classmate who helped a 10-year-old when she collapsed with an allergic reaction have been rewarded for their efforts.

Lauren Beale, who has a nut allergy, went into an anaphylactic shock while in class at Northumberland Heath Primary School last December.

She had felt unwell after lunch but did not want to bother her teachers. But best friend Amelia Harris noticed Lauren's hand wandering as she was writing and alerted teacher Jo Harding, who called the school nurse and first aider Nikki Green.

Lauren's face had swelled up, her lips were blue and she was having difficulty breathing Nikki recognised these signs and tried to inject Lauren with adrenaline using an epipen. The needle jammed but without panicking she tried again and was successful.

Lauren was rushed to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. Lauren's mother, Gail, praised the rescuers saying Lauren might have died but for their quick thinking.

Peter Simmons, from the British Allergy Foundation, who read about the incident in the News Shopper, contacted the school and was invited to present Nikki, Jo and Amelia with certificates of merit.