Three boys who tackled and chased a mugger after an attack on an 84-year-old pensioner have been honoured for their bravery.

The three friends, Lewis Singh, 11, Daniel New, 13, and Marley Joseph-Arroyave, 12, who all live in Jericho, Oxford, rushed to help frail Joan Cook, after a teenage cyclist cornered her against the wall and stole her handbag.

Mrs Cook, a widow, was pushed to the floor in the attack in Great Clarendon Street.

While Lewis went to her aid and helped her to her flat in Jericho, the other two followed the mugger along the canal towpath towards the city but he managed to escape.

Lewis, of Canal Street, Daniel, of School Court, and Marley, of Jericho Street, have received certificates from Thames Valley Police commending their "bravery and calmness" in the incident last February.

Marley said: "We heard Joan shouting 'he's taken my handbag' and saw him walking out with the bag on his shoulder. We chased after him but lost him by the canal.

"It's a bit harsh, she's an old lady."

Lewis said: "I have known her all my life. I picked up her frame, walked her back home and poured her a glass of water and waited for the police.

"My mum was proud and hung the certificate in the kitchen."

Mrs Cook, a grandmother of five, who has survived two strokes and a heart attack, walks with the help of a frame and is nursing a broken leg.

She was full of praise yesterday when the three showed their certificates to her.

She said: "This young man on a bike came up, jumped off and said he was taking the bag. He had me cornered and when he snatched it from me, I fell over.

"When they saw what was happening, they went after him on their bikes. They tried hard, but he got away. He was a young boy in his teens, but he has never been caught."

Mrs Cook says she had between £35 and £40 in her bag when it was snatched.

Sadly, she lost a further £80 three weeks later when an intruder walked into her home and stole money as she watched TV.

Of the three heroes, she said: "They were very good. They just set off and did what they could.

"They're very good boys and later came to see I was all right. I've a lot of admiration for what they did and gave them all a gift."

Susanna Pressel, Oxford city councillor for Jericho and Osney, added her own tribute.

"These three boys acted extremely bravely and intelligently and we are all very impressed and proud of them," she said. "I hope people in Jericho will feel safer in the knowledge that lads hanging around on street corners, or who sometimes grumble about things, are these three boys and their friends."

The boys were awarded their certificates at a presentation ceremony and dinner.