TWO quick-thinking children today told of how they saved their father's life when he slipped into a diabetic coma while making their tea.

And proud dad Robert Layne said a big thank-you to four-year-old Kara and Ryan, 12 - saying he did not know what would have happened if they had not raised the alarm.

Mum Wendy, 37 a photography student at Blackburn College, nearly fainted when she received a text message from Ryan telling her what had happened.

She added: "It doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened. I mean, we have to face the fact he could have died if it wasn't for the children."

Robert, 31, was diagnosed with type one diabetes seven years ago, and injects himself with insulin before meals.

But he forgot how long it had been since he had injected and fell ill while cooking a meal for the children at their home in Woodland Drive, Clayton-le-Moors.

Insulin reduces blood sugar levels and without food Robert's levels went dangerously low, making him fall into a coma.

Kara found him slumped on the couch and told him: "I don't like that" when he "froze."

The pupil at Our Lady and St Hubert's RC Primary School, Great Harwood, said: "He went all stiff and sat up really straight. I told him I didn't like it then I shouted for Ryan and told him we needed to ring for an ambulance."

Ryan said he was scared but reacted quickly - saving his stepfather's life.

The pupil at St Augustine's High School Billington, said: "I tried to give him a sweet drink but he was too stiff to swallow it and I ran to a neighbour but they weren't in. Then we rang 999."

Ambulance crews put Robert on a glucose drip to raise his blood sugar levels and he regained consciousness after about 10 minutes

He said: "I didn't have a clue what was going on. All I can remember is waking up and the ambulance crews being there.

"I don't know what would have happened to me if they hadn't acted when they did. They have been so brave and we just want to really thank them for that."

Robert, who has never been in a coma before, was recently made redundant from the CIS in Manchester after hundreds of job cuts.

He said the lack of a routine had caused the slip-up.

Kara added: "I told the ambulance man daddy had burnt the potatoes. They were black.

"He had ruined tea and we were hungry!"

A spokesman from Accrington ambulance station said the children's actions could have saved their father's life and added: "The children were really upset and thought they had let their dad down.

But they didn't, they did the right thing by calling 999."