THE shop assistant who discovered Thierry Skelly's unbelievable suffering - and brought a horror story to a happy ending- today told how she was proud of what she had done.

Mother of two Angela Evans was working at the Co-op late shop in Bacup Road, Waterfoot when Annamarie Procter called in at 10.30pm with her son in a pram, last February.

Mrs Evans of Wales Road, Waterfoot, said she confronted Procter as the infant was dressed in only a Babygro and it was a cold night. She told the young mum the child should at least be wearing a hat as well.

She was so worried about the tot's welfare, she confided in friend and colleague Michelle Cooper, who herself had just had a baby. Mrs Cooper alerted a health visitor.

Mrs Evans, who has worked at the Co-op for eight years, went on: "I was upset. Instinct just told me I had to do something before it was too late."

Mrs Evans, who was at Burnley Crown Court to see Procter and Thierry's father jailed, said: "I am proud of what I have done. I thought they would have got a longer sentence but I am happy with what they got.

She added: "I couldn't understand how anybody could do anything like that to a baby when I found out and I still can't.

Also in the public gallery was the Rossendale foster mother who looked after Thierry when he was released from hospital after three weeks' treatment to his dreadful injuries.

The woman, who has fostered for 12 years, fought back tears as she told the Evening Telegraph: "I think the sentence is too light."

The foster mum, who told how the infant is being adopted, said the baby, now 16 months old, was too scared to cry when she initially took him home, But she saw a change in him as she looked after him.

She said: "First of all he was very wary of people, even at such a young age. He was very fragile."

Officer in the case DC Jane Lawrenson, of the Public Protection Unit, has updates on Thierry's progress and is in touch with his new family.

She said the infant was now "doing very well," and added she wanted to thank the social services and staff of Deerplay Ward at Burnley General Hospital for their care of Thierry.