A NEWSPAPER delivery boy has been praised for his quick thinking after he alerted a gas company to a potential leak in Dorchester.

Sam White, 14, was doing his rounds in Sandringham Court when he noticed the smell of gas.

As it was early in the morning and there were no residents up, the Thomas Hardye School student made a note of the house number where he smelt the gas and rushed home to get his dad to contact the gas company responsible.

An engineer was immediately sent out to make sure the flat, which was in a Magna Housing Association Sheltered Housing scheme, was safe and secure.

Sam said: “I came across the smell of gas when I entered the block of flats and thought it smelled a bit weird.

“I made sure it was gas and when I went home I got my dad to ring the gas company up and I heard a little while afterwards that there was actually a gas leak.

“It’s nice to think that I might have stopped it becoming more serious.”

Director of Magna David Aldwinckle said Sam’s quick and calm thinking had ensured a potentially serious situation was avoided.

He said: “Our thanks go to Sam for his concern and speedy response as, without his prompt action, residents at Sandringham Court could well have woken to an unpleasant event.”

It is not the first time Sam, who lives in Dorchester’s Monmouth Road, has acted quickly to alert the authorities and avoid a potentially life threatening situation.

Last April he was with a group of friends at Grey’s Bridge in the town when they came across a Second World War shell.

Sam alerted the police and a bomb disposal unit was dispatched to carry out a controlled detonation.

His mum Sally said: “Sam is a sensible boy and it’s not the first time he has shown quick thinking and a mature approach to a situation that requires some quick thinking.

“I’m very proud of him.”

Responsible citizen Sam was presented with £20 of vouchers from Magna as a thank you for his latest good deed.

The busy youngster, who is a member of the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) and a keen footballer, said he was pleased to be recognised by the housing association.