QUICK-thinking lifeguard John Carr waded into a swimming pool to rescue a three-year-old girl when she started to struggle in the water.

John, aged 19, was on duty at the David Lloyd Leisure, on Chorley Street, in when he noticed the tiny girl had lost her floating aid in the middle of the four-foot deep swimming pool.

The child began to cry out and appeared to be sinking in the water.

Former Thornleigh pupil John waded in and held the girl above the water as he guided her to the poolside.

He said: "I was standing at the top of the pool's stairs when I saw her shouting and panicking. She was crying because she couldn't reach her float or the side of the pool.

"So I got in and held her to stop her going under. I moved her to the side and gave her to her mum, who had been on a sun lounger at the side. The girl was really scared and was crying."

John, who lives with his grandparents on Settle Street, Great Lever, said he only thought about his actions later.

He said: "It was only after it had happened that I got a bit nervous. I started thinking what would have happened if I had been on the other side of the pool.

"It would have taken me longer to get to her and she would have been under the water."

John completed a lifeguard qualification last year at Deane Leisure Centre before he started his job as a general assistant at the gym five months ago.