A GIRL is being hailed a little hero by police for helping a terrified four-year-old find her grandparents after she wandered off.

Mia Hayward, 12, was walking in the Capesthorne Drive area of Haydon Wick on Tuesday afternoon with her friend when they found distressed Faith Carter walking alone.

She had managed to wander off from her grandparents in the nearby park.

Mia, a Highworth Warneford School pupil, said: “It was all a bit of a shock because we were walking along and then we saw her completely on her own. I thought she was with another woman but she was running around and crying.

“We went over to try and stop her going any further and we tried to calm her down.

“I tried to get a few words out of her about where she went or what her mum looked like and she described her as blonde. Then this couple with a pram walked towards us and we thought it must be them because the woman was blonde. But she wasn’t.

“Instead the woman said there were people shouting out a name down towards the park so that’s where we went. We kept saying to her not to worry and we will try and find her mum because she was really upset.

“I keep thinking what if we didn’t stop and just left. It could have been really different because she was going towards a busy road and she could have been hit by a car or something.”

After calling the police, Faith’s grandparents frantically searched the surrounding area for their granddaughter and were told to wait for officers to arrive to aid the search.

It was moments before they were on the scene that Mia and her friend navigated their way to reunite Faith with her family. Impressed with their mature attitude to the situation, police posted about the kind act on their North and East Swindon Facebook page.

It read: “It’s a parent’s worst nightmare when a young child runs off and can’t be found.

“But luckily we do have some superstars about.

“Police had already been called but before we were even on scene the girls had reunited the youngster with her distressed and very grateful grandparents. Your community is proud of you.”

Faith’s dad, Alex Carter, 39, who lives in Old Town, visited the girls in Highworth to personally thank them for helping the search and even gave them a gift token of his appreciation.

He added: “I’m pleased to see there are still good people about. Mia’s mother and father have obviously done a fantastic job raising such a mature and helpful little lady.

“I wanted to make sure that she understood good things happen to good people. I hope she and her friend buy something nice with it.

“I also want to say a big thanks to the police and anyone else who aided Faith’s safe return.”

Mia hopes that following Monday’s events, she will have a quieter end to the February half term.

Mia’s mum Sarah, 48, of Highworth said: “I am so proud of her but I didn’t expect anything less from her in being so helpful.

"You bring children up hoping they will be kind and helpful in any situation and Faith’s parents came round to the house a few hours after it happened to thank Mia and her friend in person for what they did.

“Even though she is 12, in that situation she took on the adult role and we are so proud of her.”