"GUARDIAN Angel" Mary Roderick has been awarded a top award after rescuing a stranger's dog at Manchester Airport.

The 34-year-old veterinary nurse from Brookland Grove, Smithills, stepped in to help a pensioner who had sold her home and was ready to emigrate to Canada.

Now Bolton RSPCA has decided to award Mary their top honour, the James Newton Memorial Trophy, for her compassion.

Darwen pensioner Marion Ainsworth faced a dilemma when she was ready to board her plane with her 10-year-old King Charles Spaniel last winter.

Airport staff told her that her beloved pet was unable to fly with her because the travel crate had mistakingly gone to Heathrow Airport.

Marion was faced with a terrible choice - get on the plane without her dog or miss the flight.

But dog lover Mary, who was at the airport to wave off friends, raced to Marion's rescue and offered to take the dog home for two days.

She not only looked after the animal but drove it to Manchester Airport two days later for a flight to Canada.

In the RSPCA's citation, Mary was described as a "wonderful person" and a "Guardian Angel".

Mary's Mum, Annie, watched with pride as her daughter proudly picked up the trophy from RSPCA chairman Peter Evans at an official presentation at the town hall.

Annie said: "She didn't want all the fuss but I think she was a little bit nervous picking up her award.

"She loves dogs and it didn't matter that the woman she was helping was a stranger and that she had to put herself to considerable expense. That's the sort of person she is."

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