Lisa Potts makes her debut on the airwaves

Lisa Potts, the former nursery nurse who became a national heroine when she saved primary school pupils from a machete attacker, made her debut as a radio presenter yesterday.

The 22-year-old (right) hosted the two-hour mid-morning show on WABC Classic Gold, a local station based in her home town, Wolverhampton.

After the show, the station, which broadcasts across Shropshire and the Black Country, said it had been flooded with calls supporting Miss Potts, who was awarded the George Medal earlier this year for her bravery.

Mike Wyre, who works as a DJ for the station and helped show Miss Potts how to operate studio equipment, said: "She did very well indeed. She's got a natural bubbliness and enthusiasm. We've had lots and lots of phone calls from the public praising Lisa - she's had a really warm response."

Miss Potts, who clearly enjoyed the first of her scheduled four days at WABC, ended her first stint at the microphone by thanking the hundreds of listeners she chatted to off-air, as hits from the 50s to the early 80s were played.

WABC's afternoon show presenter, Mike Baker, said: "She thoroughly enjoyed it and she's looking forward to the challenge of tomorrow. She got hundreds of calls wishing her good luck and a few proposals of marriage.

"She was obviously a little nervous at the beginning, but she was relaxed by the end and she made a good start."

In July last year, Miss Potts tackled Horrett Campbell, when he entered the playground of St Luke's Primary School in Wolverhampton and slashed at children enjoying a teddy bears' picnic.

The former nursery assistant sustained injuries to her head, arms and back as she tried to shield children from 33-year-old Campbell, who was later ordered to be detained in a mental hospital.