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

One of the officers, Sergeant 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 by its president Princess Alexandra.

The honour is awarded when someone has put themselves in considerable danger to rescue someone else.

Sergeant 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, County Durham, last July.

The officers 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 yesterday from the Mayor of Sedgefield, Councillor 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. There should be more awards like this."

Chief Superintendent 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."

Sergeant Robinson was prevented by illness from attending yesterday's ceremony in 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.