Two St Albans women who fought a life and death battle in the city’s market place to bring a woman who collapsed and stopped breathing back from the brink of death are to receive one of the country’s top national life saving honours.

Debbie Davies, 48, Culver Road, and her fellow life-saver (who wishes to remain anonymous) have been awarded a Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates for going to the aid of Jacqueline Poll, on October 13 last year.

Today in addition to the awards Ms Davies and her co-life-saver are to receive they also won the personal praise of the Society's secretary Dick Wilkinson as he announced the award at its London headquarters.

"Their swift intervention played a major role in saving Ms Poll’s life," he said.

"They richly deserve the awards they are to receive."

Mr Wilkinson said Ms Davies was working in a shop, when Ms Poll, collapsed outside.

He continued: "Ms Poll started to fit and was bleeding profusely from an injury above her eye that she received when she fell. Ms Davies and a passer-by both went to assist and put her in the recovery position as she continued to fit. However, she then stopped breathing and had found no pulse.

"They put her on her back and started to administer cardiac pulmonary resuscitation with Ms Davies holding her head and keeping her airway open. She also dialled 999 and maintained an open line with the operator, relaying information about Ms Poll’s condition.

"After a few minutes, Ms Poll started to breathe. She was treated in hospital and has now been released. But for a time it was touch and go and Ms Davies and the other woman undoubtedly made the difference between life and death."

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards, made on the recommendation of Hertfordshire Police, but it is expected to take place in the near future.