An off-duty policeman who faced up to a masked gang of armed robbers is to receive a force's top bravery award.

PC Phil Clapham will be presented with Durham Constabulary's Matt Wilkinson Trophy at a ceremony at the Aykley Heads Police Headquarters tomorrow evening.

The 32-year-old was out shopping when he gave chase to three masked men carrying holdalls after they ran out of Shotton Colliery Post Office in County Durham last June.

During the pursuit one of the gang shouted "shoot him'' and another turned and pointed a handgun at him.

When the cries of "shoot him'' were repeated PC Clapham stopped, raised his hands, and backed-off. The gunman then turned and fled with the other accomplices.

Despite the threats PC Clapham continued to follow the trio and saw them jump into a blue BMW saloon and drive off. Crucially he made a mental note of the registration number.

He returned to the post office, called colleagues and passed on the vital information which eventually resulted in the arrest of four men. And at Newcastle Crown Court in March the quartet, three from the Durham City area and one from Gateshead, were all convicted of attempted robbery and received sentences totalling more than 40 years.

The men fled empty handed from the post office, which had been due to take delivery of £30,000 cash that day, after staff hit panic alarms. PC Clapham, a member of the community policing team in Peterlee, left court with a commendation from the trial judge for behaving "in the most conspicuously brave way and entirely without regard for his safety."

Community Inspector Paul Harrison said what was remarkable was that PC Clapham continued to give chase even after he had been threatened by the gunman.

"Despite his involvement in this personally traumatic and extremely dangerous situation he obtained vital evidence.

"And more remarkably he went back to the post office and began to look after two members of staff and other traumatised members of the public and started gathering information of possible witnessess.''

Also at tonight's ceremony PC Kim Kitching a 28-year-old policewoman whose "outstanding potential '' was spotted during her initial training will receive the force's "Probationer of the Year'' title.

And dog handler PC David Robinson, 33, and his 18-month-old canine sidekick Zak will receive the annual John Turner Trophy.

It was on their first official outing that the pair tracked down a man in difficult terrain leading to the offender being convicted of driving while disqualified, drink driving and theft.