AN EIGHT-year-old girl was hailed a lifesaver today after plucking a young playmate from a water-filled hole.

Vicky Lowson with three-year-old Liam at the hole filled with water. Liam was rescued from the hole by neighbour Amy Bell, eight

York mother Vicky Lowson said her son Liam, three, could have drowned had it not been for the prompt action of young neighbour Amy Bell.

Now Miss Lowson is calling for York Waterworks to board over the hole near her home in Chestnut Grove, New Earswick, to prevent further accidents.

She said cars were banned from her road and it was ideal for children to play in.

But a number of holes had been dug there, and though there were barriers a child could slip through them.

Miss Lowson said Liam was playing on his bike when he went headfirst into a hole, about two-and-a-half feet deep and full of water.

Luckily Amy was with him. She said he managed to get his face up, adding: "I grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him out, and he ran home."

Miss Lowson said: "I saw him running towards me, screaming, being sick, and covered head to toe in thick, gooey mud."I was absolutely petrified. You think, that could have been it."

Miss Lowson added: "If it hadn't have been for Amy grabbing him I don't think he would have been here with me."

Amy's mother, Claire Bell, said: "I'm really proud of her."

But Miss Lowson was angry because though two workmen came out soon after she reported Liam's accident all they did was reconstruct the barrier and place some plastic netting round it, which quickly fell down.

Angus Turner, project engineer for York Waterworks, expressed sympathy to Miss Lowson, adding: "We apologise for the problems she has suffered."

But he said the barriers and mesh should be sufficient to keep people away from working areas, so long as they were not interfered with.

It was unlikely the hole would be boarded over, as boards were easily removed.

"We do ask members of the public to respect the barriers. We would remind parents that construction works in general are dangerous places and that they should ensure that their children are aware of the dangers."

Mr Turner said they would ask their contractors to speed up work in the area, to install a new main pipe and connect individual homes to it.

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