A two-year-old girl needed rabies jabs after a bat flew into her home and scratched her face.

Mum Charlene Corcoran, 33, from Leavesden, was left horrified after the incident in the early hours of Sunday, May 31.

Ms Corcoran woke up at 2am and felt something scurrying around the top of her head.

She knew it was an animal and then heard a flapping noise and realised it was a bat flying around her room.

Ms Corcoran ran out of the room and her husband returned to take a photo before opening the bedroom windows and shut the bedroom door to let the bat fly out.

Watford Observer:

The scratch on young Amelie's face. Photo: SWNS

But the next day, she woke her daughter Amelie - who started talking about seeing "birdies".

Her mum was then horrified to see a scratch on her face.

Brand manager Ms Corcoran immediately contacted a doctor who then phoned Public Health England and Rabies UK.

It was decided Amelie was to be administered a full course of rabies vaccinations.

The mum-of-two said: ''It took a while to work out what it was.

Watford Observer:

Ms Corcoran's husband took a photo of the bat before opening the windows to let the bat fly out. Photo: SWNS

''We both ran straight out the room - we soon worked out it was a bat.

I was shocked and absolutely terrified.

''We started Googling how to deal with the situation and my husband ventured back inside to open all the windows.

'We vacated our bedroom for the night and went and slept in our children's bedrooms so the bat could find its way out.

''The next morning I woke up next to my daughter, and when I moved the curtain she started speaking about 'birdies'.

"She said 'is the birdie there?' and that's when I saw the marking on her face. I was in complete disbelief."

Watford Observer:

Amelie and her mum at Watford General Hospital. Photo: SWNS

Amelie received the first of her four injections on Tuesday at Watford General Hospital.

She is to be administered three more over the course of the next three weeks.

Thankfully, Amelie is making a speedy recovery and has suffered no serious illness or discomfort as a result of her injuries.

Ms Corcoran said: ''The doctors carrying out the procedure were all wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment) which is very scary for a two-year-old.

''The vaccinations are frightening enough for the little ones without all that going on.

Watford Observer:

Charlene and Amelie Corcoran. Photo: SWNS

Watford Observer:

Amelie at Watford General Hospital. Photo: SWNS

"We had so many different doctors and nurses come in to hear the story as it's such an unusual thing to have happened."

''It's going to be one of those interesting facts about yourself that she can use at work when she's older.''

''When we explained that where we lived, it was even more of a shock to everyone."

"Apparently Northwood, which isn't too far from where we live, is a bat consultation area.

''So we think that's where it may have come from - although that's seems a really long way to fly for a bat."