THE bravery of a 12-year-old boy, who saved his friend's life by shoving him out of the way of a runaway car taking some of the impact himself, has won him a national award.

Dylan Graves was left with terrible injuries when he was struck by the driverless Vauxhall Vectra which rolled down a hill in Rowantree Drive, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, in January this year.

But his selfless actions meant his friend James Yeadon, now also 12, escaped harm.

Dylan’s heroics have now been recognised with the Child/Teenager of Courage honour at this year's Pride of Britain Awards ceremony which take place in London on October 31 and will be broadcast on national television the next day.

He was secretly nominated for the award by James’s mother, Rachel Hunter and the awards’ panel of judges unanimously decided to give him the honour. after reading her account of how Dylan saved her son's life.

Dylan and the other award winners will also receive the personal congratulations of Prime Minister Theresa May when they meet her for lunch at 10 Downing Street on November 2.

His proud mother, Natasha Graves, 37, of Sandholme Drive, Thorpe Edge, said she was delighted her son's bravery had been recognised with the award and also praised the way he was pushing himself to get back to full health.

She said: “He was a huge hero.

"Dylan has been amazing over the last nine months. He has really pushed himself with his recovery.

“He is still recovering and is still having physio with his back but is back on his scooter.

“Whatever he does in his life in the future he will now always be a hero but Dylan does not see himself like that.

“He saved someone’s life at 12-years-old. Who does that?

“He is fine with walking down where the accident happened, but I still can’t drive down there. I have been in tears but he has been fine.

“I’m so proud of him, I can’t put it into words.

“I did not know he had even been nominated for the award. We got a call about three weeks ago.

“He said he would do it again for James if he ever had to. They are together all of the time.”

Dylan suffered two broken vertebrae, a fractured pelvis and a bruised lung when he was hit by the car and left trapped between it and a fence.

He was treated at Leeds General Infirmary and then underwent an eight-week-long recovery at home before he could return to lessons at Immanuel School in Thackley.

The Pride of Britain Awards will be broadcast on ITV on November 1 from 8pm.