A mother-of-eight has told how a television programme helped her keep a toddler alive after he was in collision with a car.

Good neighbour Tina Taylor rushed into action and gave two-and-a-half-year-old Fahmed Choudhury the kiss of life after the accident outside his home in Kings Road, Chelmsford.

For three minutes she gave the youngster mouth-to-mouth resuscitation - a technique Mrs Taylor only knew from watching TV rescue programmes such as 999.

Her swift actions may have saved the youngster's life - even though the have-a-go mum has had no medical training.

"We like watching programmes like 999, Animal Rescue and Lifesaver 1," said Mrs Taylor.

"I've had no training whatsoever but for some reason the panic went from me and I got on with it.

Little Fahmed was today still seriously ill in London's Guys Hospital where he is being treated for severe head injuries.

Mrs Taylor's 15-year-old nephew Matthew heard the crash and alerted his aunt.

"He thought it was two cars - it was that type of thud," said Mrs Taylor,36.

"But then he said 'Oh my God, it's one of the kids from next door.' The accident happened at the front of the house - there were trails of blood everywhere. The driver had carried the little boy to his mum next door but when I looked at him I could tell something was wrong.

"I asked her to hand the child to me and laid him in the driveway on his back."

Mrs Taylor's other nephew Kevin, 20, contacted the emergency services.

"I told him to tell the ambulance people he had stopped breathing," said Mrs Taylor. "Then I started feeling for a pulse on his neck and arm but I couldn't find one.

"I listened for his breathing but I couldn't hear anything so I cleared his airways and started to give him mouth -to-mouth."

Mrs Taylor battled to keep the youngster breathing until the ambulance arrived and paramedics took over.

Paramedics took the boy to Broomfield Hospital by ambulance.

He was later transferred to Guys Hospital in London because of the extent of his injuries. Today his condition was still said to be critical.

Mrs Taylor said: "I'll make sure I keep on watching those TV programmes in future."

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened on Monday at around 5.45pm; contact them on 01245 491491.

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