A TRAFFIC policeman has been praised for diving into the River Wear to save a drowning teenager.

PC David Morgan, 32, a former international polo player, was one of the first officers on the scene after the un-named 19-year-old fell 30ft into the the river after climbing onto the side of Framwelgate Bridge during a night out in Durham on Wednesday.

He had disappeared beneath the surface and the officer volunteered to go in and save him. After removing his boots, belt and tie he swam more than 20 yards to reach the young man who again slipped under the water.

After a brief struggle he managed to swim back to the riverbank with the teenager and the pair were helped out of the water by PCs Mick Todd and Colin Gash.

The man, from Gilesgate, swallowed a large amount of water and was detained overnight in the city's University Hospital for observation.

PC Morgan, a father of two young children, said: "With my swimming background it made sense that I should be the one to go into the water."

Chief Insp John Bell said: "Even for a capable swimmer this was a very risky thing to do given all the obvious dangers of venturing out into deep river water.

"PC Morgan's unselfish bravery was highly commendable and was undoubtedly instrumental in averting a potential tragedy."