A YOUNG lad who went to the aid of an elderly neighbour has been praised for staying with the injured man rather than attending his own 10th birthday party.

Caring Jake Mitchell, and his friend India Gregory, rushed to help their 90-year-old neighbour minutes before they were due to set off for Jake's party.

Proud dad Jon Mitchell said: "It was my son's tenth birthday and he told the man that helping him was more important than his party.

"My son stayed with him while his friend India went for help.

"I am super proud of him and India."

Jake's mum, Michelle, told the Daily Echo her son and India had decided to go for a ride on their bikes - Jake had just received his as a birthday present - near their home in Hightown Gardens, Ringwood, on Thursday afternoon.

Michelle said: "They disappeared for a little while, my daughter couldn't find them, then India came running up to the house and said 'you've got to come urgently, we've found a man lying on the floor with blood on his head'.

"I legged it down the road and around the corner. They'd been riding around there and heard someone calling for help. They found him in the back garden laying on the path wearing pyjamas, with his head on the doorstep.

"My son stayed with him, talking to him, while India came to get me."

It later transpired the man, who had fallen around 1.45pm, had been laying on the ground without help for around two-and-a-half hours.

Michelle said: "We popped back to check on him the next day and took him a piece of birthday cake.

"He's doing fine and is very grateful to the children for helping him.

"Jake says when they went into the man's garden he was scared because he was worried he might be badly hurt.

"But he says now that he's happy he helped someone and glad he's OK."