Joshua Brookes is all of 2 years old and needed to stand on a box to open the door to police who had responded to his home near Wigan.

The Times of London said Joshua had dialed 999 and told the Greater Manchester Police dispatcher, "Mummy won't wake up."

Dispatcher Paula Hall said while Joshua showed great poise, he was also too frightened to tell her his name.

The Times said Joshua's mother, Isobel Brookes, has a heart condition that causes her to faint without warning. She had wisely coached Joshua and his big sister, Amy, on how to call for help should she ever pass out.