TWO people who saved three people from the burning wreckage of a car crash have been honoured for their bravery.

In November last year, a car carrying five people on their way to work at Malton Bacon Factory collided head-on with a van on the B1248 near the Ryedale town.

Two passing motorists who stopped to save people from the wreckage are among several members of the public and police officers to receive commendations from North Yorkshire Police for heroism.

Christopher Strong, from Driffield, had freed the injured driver of the van and returned to the burning vehicles.

He was then joined by another member of the public, who does not wish to be named, who rescued a badly injured passenger from the Ford Focus.

Mr Strong noticed another injured man behind the car, which was now well alight. As he carried him to safety there was an explosion from the Focus which sent flames and debris into the air.

Sadly three other people lost their lives in the collision.

Others to receive commendations for bravery or going beyond the call of duty included:

• Jason Stacy, a control room call-handler who saved the life of a suicidal woman.

• Special Constable Amanda Popely, based in York, and four officers from the Firearms Support Unit who saved an 81-year-old man who had been stabbed by his son.

• Traffic Constable Dave Taylor for his work in dealing with a fatal road accident near Ripon.

• PC Mark Atkinson of Easingwold Safer Neighbourhood Team, who saved the life of a man who had hung himself by cutting him down and resuscitating him.

• PC Lisa Jones and Special Constables Alan Simpson, Richard Barker and Daniel Stubbs, based in Northallerton, for their investigation into the theft of £10,00 worth of sunglasses.

• PC Richard Baranovsky of Harrogate Safer Neighbourhood Team, who helped a vulnerable, elderly woman by organising a team while off-duty to help him clear her flat of over four tons of material and arrange for social services support.