TWO Durham police officers have been presented with a bravery award for risking their own lives to stop a man from diving 60ft from a bridge.

One of the pair, Sgt Sue Robinson, had already been hailed as the region's bravest bobby following a separate incident last year.

Now with PC Gary Coulson, she has received a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum, signed and approved by its president Princess Alexandra.

This is awarded where someone has put themselves in considerable danger to rescue someone else.

Sgt Robinson, 34, and PC Coulson, 41, grabbed the man as he tried to throw himself off the bridge over the A688 dual carriageway at North Close, Spennymoor, one evening last July.

They were both left badly bruised by their tussle with the man, who was very drunk, emotional and abusive.

PC Coulson, who is beat officer for Middlestone Moor, Kirk Merrington and Byers Green, collected both awards on Monday from the Mayor of Sedgefield, Coun George Gray.

He said: "It is nice to be recognised but at the time I didn't think about being in any danger.

"We acted instinctively when the man's mobile phone went off. We had to, it was blatantly obvious that he was going to jump." Coun Gray said: "It is wonderful to see this sort of bravery recognised."

Chief Supt Robin Trounson, head of operations for the south division of Durham police, said: "This is the sort of work that generally goes unrecognised but an award like this means a lot to the officers, means a lot to their colleagues and means a lot to the service."

Sgt Robinson was prevented by illness from attending the ceremony at Sedgefield Borough Council's offices. Last summer the Police Federation named her the bravest officer in the North-East for disarming a gunman who fired at her from 20ft.