A five-year-old child who toppled from his bike into a canal was rescued by a passing schoolboy who jumped into the water.

Teachers at Mangotsfield School in Bristol have praised the actions of 13-year-old Clifford Hope who saved the boy from drowning in the Kennett and Avon Canal in Bath

Cliff, who saw the boy in the water as he was cycling along the towpath on a school outing, passed the child out to his father, an American on holiday in the area.

"I just acted straight away and jumped in and grabbed him as he was going under. I am very proud of what I did," said Cliff.

Cold water

He also rescued the child's bicycle.

The incident occurred while Cliff was on a cycle trip from Mangotsfield to Bradford-on-Avon as part of his school's curriculum enrichment programme.

The rescue took place as the 23 pupils and four staff - who were spread out before reaching their next regrouping point - were approaching Bath on the return leg of the ride.

"Without any concern for his own safety Cliff jumped into the icy cold water, grabbed hold of the child and was able to pass him to his grateful father," the school's deputy head Andrew Wait told BBC News Online.

The boy was pulled from the Kennett and Avon Canal

"Cliff's act of bravery is an example of what young people in this country have always done when the situation demands. I am very proud of him."

The child's father had offered a reward which Cliff had "graciously declined", said Mr Wait, who was with the party and arrived on the scene soon after the rescue.

Cliff, who has never had any training in life-saving, will now be considered for an award by the school.

It was learned later that a large dog had scared the child causing him to brake suddenly and lose his balance.

He had fallen into the water just before Cliff had arrived at the section of towpath.