A woman with a fear of water has been hailed a hero after saving a young boy from drowning just weeks after learning to swim.

Holidaymaker Anne Marie Beddis, 48, of Otley, put her newly-learned skills to the test and rescued a four-year-old who plunged into a hotel pool in Spain and disappeared under the water.

Mrs Beddis had only learnt to swim at the Dragons health club in Yeadon just before going on holiday. The drama unfolded while she was taking a dip at the Hotel Vista Bella in Rosa near Barcelona and saw the English boy, whom she knew only as Tom, and his older sister by the poolside.

She said: "The little girl got into the pool and told her brother to stay where he was. But after a couple of minutes he jumped in and went straight under - his sister was screaming his name.

"There was no one else around - I was horrified that two young children had been left alone like that - so even though I was panicking inside I knew I had to do something.

"I just swam over as quickly as I could and pulled him out. If I hadn't been able to swim that little boy would have drowned.

"It's so important to be able to swim - you're never too old to learn. I know it's a clich but if I can do it anyone can.''

Mrs Beddis, of Farnley Lane, who is married with two grown-up daughters, said she had been so grateful for her new-found skill that she presented her swimming instructor Sonya Smith with a bouquet on her return to England.

Miss Smith said: "She's definitely a hero and I call her 'Tom's guardian angel'. I'm extremely proud of her.

"She was petrified of the water before. If she hadn't faced her fear and learned to swim she wouldn't have been able to save that little boy.

"I teach a lot of adults and it's not easy for them - Anne Marie was very nervous in the water at first but her sheer determination spurred her on.

"She achieved more in just eight lessons than anyone I've taught before.''