Papergirl Emma Taylor's instincts could have saved a disabled woman from being burgled.

The 13-year-old Maldon schoolgirl felt something was not right when she found the door open to a house on her round. She later returned to set her mind at rest, but the door was still open.

Emma, of Fambridge Road, said: "I rang the doorbell and shouted but there was no reply.

"I knew the lady who lived there was disabled and was concerned she might have collapsed."

Louisa Jordan, 54, suffers from a bad heart, epilepsy and softening of the bones, and explained her door had not shut properly when she went away for a few days.

Emma raised the alarm with neighbours who got in touch with Mrs Jordan's daughter to check everything was all right.

Mrs Jordan of Warwick Drive, Maldon, praised Emma for her actions and has nominated her as a papergirl of the year.

"She probably saved me from being burgled. Not many youngsters would have bothered to have taken the trouble she did," she said.

"I could have lost everything."

Sandon School pupil Emma said she was a bit overawed by what had happened after receiving a thank you gift from Mrs Jordan.

Thank you -- Louisa Jordan with Gazette papergirl Emma Taylor.

Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.