Two young girls from Stevenage out watching fireworks on Saturday raised the alarm to help rescue a display volunteer who had collapsed and lost consciousness in a toilet.

Six-year-old Miley Kavanagh and her nine-year-old sister Keira were staying with their grandparents Lesley and Sonny Vincent, who run an annual fireworks party at Little Paxton in Cambridgeshire, when Miley needed the loo.

She went to use the one in their grandparents’ house – which had been designated for use by the volunteers – but ended up waiting outside for more than 15 minutes.

“She waited and waited, but it was so long she got worried,” mum Laura Gourlay told the Comet.

“She and Keira started banging on the door but they got no response. They were the only ones in the house as everyone was in the street watching the fireworks.”

The girls realised something was amiss and rushed off to get help.

“Sensibly they found their uncle Martin and told him someone was stuck in the toilet,” said Laura.

“He and my mum went to look and through the smallest crack they could see someone lying on the floor behind the door, unresponsive.”

Martin called an ambulance, opened the door with Lesley’s help and put the young man into the recovery position on the landing.

An ambulance spokesman said a rapid response vehicle attended shortly after 7.20pm and treated a man described as aged in his 20s, who did not require hospitalisation.

“The man was fine, and my girls raised the alarm,” said proud Laura. “They are my heroes.”