TWO pupils at St Gabriel's High School came to the rescue of a teacher after he collapsed during a lesson.

Danny Spensley (16) and fellow Year 11 student Mark Dunne rushed to the aid of Mr Peter Larkin on Wednesday afternoon (March 5) when he keeled over during a music lesson.

Together with assistant head of music Miss Anne Marie Watkinson and teacher Mrs Jane Roberts, who is a first-aider, the teenagers helped care for Mr Larkin before paramedics arrived at the school in Bridge Road, Bury.

Both Danny and Mark then took charge of the music lesson until another teacher could be found to supervise the pupils while Miss Watkinson accompanied Mr Larkin to Fairfield General Hospital.

It is believed that Mr Larkin, from Greenmount, who is a regular guest music lecturer at St Gabriel's, suffered an angina attack and is expected to make a full recovery.

Miss Watkinson said: "I was teaching my class when I saw Peter standing outside the room. I asked him if he was all right but he said he was feeling sick.

"I stayed with him and rang for the school first-aider, Mrs Jane Roberts. His condition was getting worse so I ran to call 999. He then turned blue and began having a fit."

While Miss Watkinson was trying to bring him round, Mrs Roberts arrived with the two fifth-year pupils.

Miss Watkinson said: "They held Mr Larkin, and helped him lie down. They were fantastic and remained calm."

Mark said: "Because Danny and I are fifth-year pupils, some young pupils told us about Mr Larkin and we went to the music block to help. We just did followed what we were asked to do."

While Mr Larkin was being treated in the ambulance, Danny, of Griffin Close, and Mark, of Hornby Street, both Bury, supervised Miss Watkinson's class until a replacement teacher was found.

Mr Adam Loster, deputy head teacher of St Gabriel's, said: "We are very proud of them. They both acted very responsibly and kept calm, helping Mrs Roberts and Miss Watkinson during a very stressful time."

It is not the first time Danny has come to the rescue of someone in distress. Last November he chased a mugger on his bicycle who had attacked an elderly man in Rochdale Road, Bury.

Mr Larkin from Greenmount is recovering in hospital and is undergoing medical tests.