An agent conducting a routine three-monthly inspection found the tenant having a stroke.

Catherine Ollerton, of Copelands Estate Agents in Westhoughton, near Bolton, has been praised for her quick action.

Elderly widow Patricia Scott had woken up that morning noticing a bloodshot eye and a droopy mouth.

But as she lives on her own, she had not realised her speech had gone.

When the agent turned up, she immediately noticed that something was wrong and dialled 999. Paramedics arrived within minutes.

Lisa Hernias, manager of Copelands, said: “If the appointment had not been booked in for that time and date you don’t know what could have happened. We are really proud of what Catherine did.

“She doesn’t want any gratitude for it because she says she just acted as anyone else would have but she acted very quickly and didn’t panic.”

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