A GUARDIAN angel has been reunited with the mum of a young boy she helped after he was scalded during a picnic.

Janet Hubbard, 63, was driving near Southchurch Park when she noticed Karen Little, 23, run into the street carrying her screaming toddler.

During a picnic with other mums and tots, 23-month-old son Rylie picked up a scalding hot cup of tea, which had just been poured, and tipped it over himself.

Desperate to get help, the mum-of-three from Gordon Road, Southend, began to run towards the nearby Little Stars nursery, but Janet spotted her.

Without hesitation, she told her to jump into her car, before whisking the distraught mum to Southend Hospital.

Once there, the youngster received rapid treatment to burns to his chest and stomach, preventing them from becoming worse.

Mrs Hubbard, 63, of Highcliff Drive, Leigh said: “I was just on my way to play golf at Thorpe Hall and was coming up to the roundabout when I saw a young woman with her little boy looking quite distressed. I went round the roundabout and back towards them to help. You could see there was a problem, as the baby didn’t have any clothes on his top half. I got them into the car and got them to the hospital within five minutes. I’m really glad to hear he is OK and I am happy I could help.”

It’s not the first time Mrs Hubbard has come to the rescue of strangers.

Her proud husband Robert, 66, said: “Once she saw a boy being bullied by another boy. The younger boy was with his mum.

Janet got out of her car and separated the boys before looking after the mother and child.

“Another time she found a lady rolling around drunk one morning. She picked her up and took her home. She doesn’t like bullies and will always stop and help someone.”