Matthew Harvey ran off before the girl's mother could thank him

Matthew Harvey, who is 6ft 1in tall, managed to use his body to stop the car from crashing in Flint, north Wales.

The drama had begun when Hannah Hopley accidentally released the handbrake in her family's car.

Her mother Catrina Hopley said Matthew was "such a hero" for stopping the out-of-control car.

Mrs Hopley was adjusting a child seat in the back of the car when the vehicle began rolling away with Hannah still inside it.

She started chasing after the car herself but it was Matthew, a pupil at St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School in Flint, who was able to stop the runaway car himself.

You hear such bad things about young people today but he was prepared to risk his life to save my daughter Catrina Hopley

The mother was then able to jump into the car's driving seat and pull on the handbrake herself.

But before she could thank Matthew he ran off because he was late for school.

She was later able to track him down after recognising his school uniform.

"I couldn't thank him enough," said Mrs Hopley.

"He is such a hero. You hear such bad things about young people today but he was prepared to risk his life to save my daughter."

Matthew told Mrs Hopley his actions were "a gut reaction" and said he just knew he had to do something.