A child’s first day at school is an emotional event for any parent – but for Lisa Potts it also stirs traumatic memories of a playground machete attack when she shielded youngsters from attack.

Today the 33-year-old, who receives an honour from the University of Wolverhampton tomorrow, walked her four-year-old son Alfie to school for the very first time.

“Life has to go on,” said Lisa, who is credited with saving the lives of youngsters while working as a nursery nurse when she shielded them from machete-wielding attacker Horrett Campbell at a Wolverhampton school in 1996.

“Alfie is very excited about starting school and of course it’s such a big event for any parent and child. But I do feel I have to reassure myself there’s nothing to worry about.

“I know Alfie is going to be fine. Surely nothing like that would ever happen again,” said Lisa, who also has another son, Jude, who turns two on Saturday.

Lisa, who is married to police officer David Webb, 37, transformed the awful events of July 8, 1996, into something positive when she founded the charity Believe To Achieve, known as B2A, to help the All Saints and Blakenhall community where the attack happened.

It helps local children realise their full potential by working with them to raise their self-esteem.

Tomorrow afternoon Lisa, who used to live in Telford, will be honoured for her charity work when she is awarded an honorary fellowship from the University of Wolverhampton.

“I’m extremely honoured but it is for the charity. It’s not about me,” the modest mother-of-two said.