Award for courageous twins

Rebecca and Darryl with mother Donna and father Noel before the ceremony

Brave twins who saved their mother's life after she became engulfed in a fireball have received a special honour in London.

Thirteen-year-old Darryl and Rebecca Christy from Londonderry have been presented with Children of Courage awards at a star-studded ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

It was in recognition of their quick-thinking after they doused the flames when a petrol can exploded in their mother's face in their back garden last September.

The drama unfolded as Donna Christy, 42, tried to burn some rubbish, unaware that a container of petrol was lying nearby.

As she ignited the rubbish, the fire exploded and the force of the blast flung her across the garden of their Woodbrook home.

Donna said: "I was not aware that my body was on fire, it was my face and my hair. I could feel it melting and my hair was in flames.

"Darryl shouted: 'Mummy. mummy, quick your clothes are on fire.' My very shoes were on fire. Daryl rolled me on the grass, he put his body on top of mine, burning his own top, to get the flames out.

We feel Darryl and Rebecca showed outstanding bravery with the quick thinking that saved their mother which we feel makes them Children of Courage Elsa McAlonan Editor Woman's Own

"Rebecca heard the screams from inside the house and she ran out. Both of them kept getting buckets of water, throwing them round me. "

As Donna writhed in agony, her children acted instintively to remove burning items from her body.

"They ripped off the jewelry that was burning into my neck and my ears. They pulled off my clothes," she said.

"Rebecca ran into the house and phoned the emergency services and very calmly explained what had happened."

By the time the ambulance arrived, Donna was drifting in and out of consciousness.

Paramedics at the scene said the children had saved their mother's life.

Donna said the children also took care of her while she underwent months of painful skin grafts after the accident.

"The children were absolutely fantastic," she said.

Darryl (left) was among the children who met Tony Blair

"After I came out of hospital, there was so many people visiting at the house and they were making the tea and tidying up.

"Days when I was really down they would talk to me to try to get me to be in good form."

Donna subsequently nominated Darryl and Rebecca for this year's Woman's Own Children of Courage Awards.

Magazine editor Elsa McAlonan said the twins were an inspiration to everyone.

"Throughout the year we are inundated with entries for the Woman's Own Children of Courage awards - from mothers, grandmothers, aunts and neighbours who nominate children they feel deserve to be recognised and rewarded for their extreme courage.

"This year the response has been even higher than normal.

"Choosing 10 winners proved virtually impossible - but we feel Darryl and Rebecca showed outstanding bravery with the quick thinking that saved their mother which we feel makes them Children of Courage."

After receiving their award on Wednesday, the children met Tony and Cherie Blair in Downing Street and then joined a host of celebrities at a special party in the House of Lords.

They are due to meet Prince Charles at Clarence House later on Thursday.

The prince has had a long association with the award ceremony, giving a tea party for winners in 2001 and presenting the awards in 2002.