Two girls have been hailed as lifesavers after rushing to the aid of a sick man other people thought was drunk.

Taura Wood and Eloise 'Ellie' Burns saw Dominic Feeley, 44, staggering and then collapsing underneath the town hall in Wallingford on Monday.

Other people thought Mr Feeley was drunk but the 16-year-old Wallingford School pupils discovered he was diabetic, used his equipment to measure his blood sugar levels, dashed off to get him a sugary drink and stayed with him until an ambulance arrived.

And then they modestly told no-one about what had happened.

But their actions were noted by town council member Theresa Jordan, who took over from them, and she told fellow councillors, who praised the girls.

Mr Feeley, a computer systems manager, of Wilding Road, and leading light in the town's annual blues festival, said: "They did a very creditable job and I am immensely grateful to them. All I can think of is that I took the wrong sort of insulin in the morning.

"A mistake like that can be fatal and the girls saved my life by acting so quickly.

"I don't remember much about it but I wish I could have thanked them there and then."

Taura, of Station Road, said: "The man was swaying about and hanging on to some scaffolding.

"Other people thought he was drunk and were taking the mickey.

"But when he started collapsing we went over to him.

"I kept him talking, asking him questions, check- ing whether he was epileptic or had some other illness.

"He wasn't talking but when I asked if he was diabetic he nodded.

"We got his blood testing kit, pricked his finger to check the blood and I saw the blood sugar level was low.

"Eloise ran off for a can of Coke to get his sugar up again and she telephoned for the ambulance.

"I talked to the ambulance control saying what was happening and then the ambulance arrived."

Taura knew what to do because friends and relatives were diabetic and had spoken about how to tackle problems.

Eloise, from Wey Road, in Berinsfield, said: "I just did what Taura told me to do.

"We wanted to make sure he was all right and we kept talking to him until the paramedics got there."

Taura added: "We did what we had to do.

"I hope it shows people in Wallingford that just because we wear hooded tops we are not yobs."

Earlier this year she and another friend helped an old man who had collapsed near his home back into his house with his groceries after a woman had passed by saying the man was drunk.

He sent them cards and £30 cheques — but they sent the cheques back, saying the thank-you card was sufficient.

Ms Jordan said: "They were wonderful with the man at the town hall and did a fantastic job for him.

"They could well have saved his life."