She has received more than 20 awards, including the George Medal for bravery, but when heroine Lisa Potts accepted an honour from the University of Wolverhampton, she felt “especially proud” to be honoured by her home city.

The 33-year-year-old, who protected youngsters from a machete-wielding attacker while working as a nursery nurse in the city, was awarded an honorary fellowship from the university.

Lisa was working in the nursery at St Luke’s School in Blakenhall when Horrett Campbell burst into the school grounds in July 1996.

She suffered numerous injuries while protecting the children.

Desperate to transform the experience into something positive, she founded the charity Believe to Achieve, known as B2A, to help the All Saints and Blakenhall community, where the attack happened.

And yesterday afternoon the mother-of-two was awarded an honorary fellowship from the University of Wolverhampton in recognition of her charity work.

“It came as a great surprise to be awarded the fellowship and I am very honoured to receive it,” she said.

“It’s a great privilege to get this recognition, especially as it’s from my home city which makes me very proud,” said Lisa, who attended the ceremony at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre with her husband and parents.

The B2A charity helps local children realise their full potential, by working to raise their self-esteem.

“I’m thrilled that something positive has come from something so awful. The charity is all about the children, not me, and it really does help make a difference to their lives,” added Lisa.

By Maria Cusine