THREE girls who saved a Bradford cricket club from potential damage as a grass fire threatened to spread out of control have been commended for their quick thinking and bravery.

Chiefs at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were so impressed by the actions of Ariella Ryan, aged 12, and sisters Claudia and Emma Reynolds, 14 and ten, in halting the spread of the flames in Tong Park that they awarded them each a Station Commander's Certificate of Appreciation.

The girls were invited in to Shipley fire station for a tour of the building and its fire truck before Station Commander John Needham handed over the certificates and he told the girls: "You used your initiative to try to put the fire out and the actions you took to extinguish the fire were exemplary. You showed extreme bravery and tenacity.

"It stopped the fire progressing to the cricket club, or damaging the pitch. It was a massive area and it shows how quickly fire can spread," he said.

Tong and Esholt Cricket Club also showed their appreciation, with club spokesman Ronnie Franks also attending to present each of the girls with itunes vouchers.

The drama happened in August when they were out walking a dog and came across the fire.

Mr Franks had been fishing in the area, but he could not get involved in tackling the fire because he was with a young child.

Before firefighters arrived, the girls used a towel to successfully beat out flames which threatened to spread to the pitch and trees.

Ariella breathed in some some during the incident and was given oxygen at the scene by firefighters, but did not require any further treatment.

It is thought the fire was started by a carelessly discarded cigarette.