A first-time mother has thanked the council for rescuing her in the pouring rain.

Lucy Barnett, of Shenley, had been taking her five-month-old baby to get weighed on Monday when she dropped her keys into a puddle as she leant into her car.

As she leant down to grab them, she realised that the puddle had gathered above a clogged drain - which her keys had fallen down.

She said: "It was pouring with rain and I was on my own with my five-month baby. I was panicking - I couldn’t leave the car unlocked, but I couldn’t stay in it with no heating to warm the baby."

After speaking to the company who had loaned her the courtesy car and being told she would be facing a £250 charge for losing the keys, Mrs Barnett called Hertsmere Borough Council in a last ditch attempt to find someone who could help.

To her relief, the operations manager from engineering services, Ashleigh Tennant, came to her rescue - despite fishing not being a normal part of his day-to-day duties.

Mr Tennant said: "We don’t usually provide this service so as per protocol I referred the woman to Hertfordshire Highways but after coming off the phone I decided I would go to see if I could help.  I have a young family myself and would want somebody to help them in a similar situation."

He managed to retrieve the keys, saving Mrs Barnett a lot of stress - and the £250.

The 32-year-old said: "It was just so kind of him. I had literally just thrown money down the drain and was so glad he could help me - I didn’t know what else I was going to do."

"People are always quick to criticise the council but this man really saved me, even though he really didn’t have to, so I just want to thank him enormously."

Simon Payton, head of engineering services said he was very proud of the decision made by his staff member and added: "Ashleigh made the call to go and see if he could help as the woman was in distress and had a young baby, and I am proud of him for going above and beyond his duties to help someone in need. 

"We strive to employ those who go the extra mile and this isn’t the first time our engineers have come to the rescue, a few years ago two members of staff helped find a wedding ring which had been accidently thrown into one of our lakes."