A BRAVE 12-year-old boy stepped in to help an elderly lady who was being verbally abused by a group of yobs.

The boy, who attends De La Salle School, in Basildon, was on his way home on Thursday when he spotted the altercation which ended with the 84-year-old lady in tears.

The Good Samaritan intervened shortly after 3.20pm when the mob surrounded the woman in an alley near to the shops in Whitmore Way, before swearing at her and insulting her.

The boy’s mum, Tammy Hayden, from Basildon, explained: “There was around five boys surrounding an elderly lady.

“She was crying because they were verbally abusing her. Even though he was scared he said he couldn’t let them talk to her like that. My son went over and had a go at them and then helped her across the road.

“They proceeded to shout and swear at my son who went over to the teacher at the alley and told him what had happened.”

The 31-year-old added: “The teacher told him to come back and make a statement with him the next day and they will be reporting it.”

The school which the boys are understood to attend was contacted for comment but claims to have had no reports of the incident.

Until further information comes forward, the school is not investigating the incident.

Proud mum Tammy, continued: “It’s shocking, my son had to ask if he could say the words to me what the boys were saying.

“He’s a good lad and I’m really proud he did the right thing.”

Mrs Anna Brown, head of school at De La Salle, said: “A Year Eight student from our school intervened when he witnessed an altercation with five other boys from another local school who seemed to be shouting at an elderly lady, calling her nasty things.

“Our student told them to go away and made sure she was okay because she was crying.

“He told them: “You wouldn’t speak to your nan like that,” and was concerned about the lady’s welfare.

“It’s fortunate a teacher from our school was also there, who was in the area at the time. The student was very public minded and very kind to the lady.”