A TEENAGER who risked her own safety to rugby tackle a street robber said today: "I'm no heroine."

Devon Burnell, 14, bravely chased the drug addict after he snatched a woman's handbag in Plumbe Street, Burnley.

The Burnley youngster, who was just 13 at the time, pursued the man through several back streets before rugby tackling him to the ground where he was arrested by a police officer.

Devon, a year ten pupil at Towneley High School, has now been commended by a judge in a ceremony at Preston Crown Court.

Judge Christopher Cornwall praise her quick thinking, courage and determination and said: "Had Devon not done as she did, that robber would probably have escaped arrest and having got away with it, he might have been emboldened to rob another innocent victim.

"On behalf of the community she should he praised and congratulated for doing what she did."

A 25-year-old man is now serving a three-and-a-half-year prison term for the crime.

He had emerged from Branch Road, soon after the robbery last year, when Devon and two friends were alerted to what had happened.

Without a moment's hesitation they gave chase along back and side streets and tracked the culprit to a yard where she challenged him. The man ran off, but the plucky teenager followed him and grabbed a hold of him, but he lashed out.

The man made another bolt for freedom but Devon dived on his legs and the man was arrested by a nearby police community support officer. The whole episode lasted about ten minutes.

Devon, a keen athlete, said: "It was just an instinctive reaction. I didn't think about how it felt at the time.

"There wasn't time to feel scared. It was like 'go'.

"I have never touched a rugby ball in my life but I think that doing sprinting at school has come in handy."

She added: "I didn't think I was doing anything heroic at the time, I just went onto auto-pilot.

"People are telling me I could be a rugby player or a police officer after what I did, but I'm keeping my career options open."

Devon also keeps fit by doing trampolining and teaches cheerleading for Shell's Belles in Burnley.

After the ceremony her parents parents Lesley and Stephen said: "We feel very proud, but we could have strangled her at the time when we heard what had happened. When she told us what she had done we didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She is very brave."

The High Sheriff of Lancashire, Mrs Gail Stanley, said: "I am full of admiration for the bravery that took place. I suspect a number of adults would have thought twice about doing what you did."