A BRAVE Charford woman, who was hailed a hero when she rescued three children from a blazing minibus with just minutes to spare, has been honoured.

Janet Taylor, from Housman Close, was nominated by the public and chosen by Worcestershire County Council chairman Peter Carter (Lib Dem, Kidderminster Brinton Park) as an Unsung Hero.

She was picked up in the civic car and driven by chauffeur from her home to a reception at County Hall, in Worcester, where she was congratulated by the chairman and given her award.

A Royal Worcester Porcelain plate, which is also given to foreign VIPs, records her achievement.

The Unsung Hero awards, now in their second year, are a chance for the council chairman to reward people for outstanding work in the community.

In May, the Advertiser/Messenger exclusively revealed how Janet, who runs Jan's Kabs, was driving a minibus with three disabled children from Catshill's Chadsgrove School, in Meadow Road, to respite care when the engine caught fire.

The flames spread quickly and Janet had to use the tailgate lift to rescue the children, who were clamped into the bus.

Just minutes after the last child had been helped out of the bus, flames began shooting from the minibus's fibreglass roof.

Town firefighters, who arrived at the scene, described it as "an inferno".

Janet had to be taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

She said: "I first heard about the award a month ago, but I didn't know about the civic reception and all the photographers until I read it in the newspaper.

"It's great because I am just finishing my job after 12 years and its nice to have a happy ending.

"When the fire happened I didn't have time to think about anything. I just thought I had to get the children out."