COURAGEOUS actions by police and the public were honoured at an awards ceremony yesterday.

North Yorkshire Chief Constable Della Cannings made a series of awards at the force's headquarters at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton.

Chief Constable's Commendations went to Sergeant Michael Fenton and Constables Andrew Richardson, Richard Hammond and Andrew Fraser, all based in Scarborough

They pursued and arrested a man who robbed a supermarket using what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun.

The gun was an imitation, but the officers did not know that as they apprehended and held a violent and dangerous man, who was subsequently jailed for nine years.

Inspector Tony Landray was presented with a commendation for actions which "without doubt saved a distressed woman who was intent on taking her own life".

The woman, who had taken drink and prescription drugs, had waded into the water at Scarborough's South Bay, intending to harm herself.

Insp Landray and Sergeant Paul Delaney could not wait for a rescue boat to arrive and waded into the mounting waves with ropes around their waists to save the woman.

Detective Constable John Lintott, of Selby, was commended for a painstaking inquiry which led to a man being jailed after admitting more than 100 offences of forgery and deception.

Certificates of appreciation went to civilians Duncan Smart and Phil Ellis, both of Scarborough. Both men confronted and helped capture burglars.

Sergeant Paul Jenkins, now with the Complaints and Professional Standards Department at police headquarters, represented North Yorkshire Police as a member of the European Union Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In recognition of that, a European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal was presented by Dr Javier Solana Madariaga, the mission's secretary-general.

Long-service awards were presented to PC Chris Redin, Sergeant Mark Taylor, Jenny Ellis, Roger Wilkinson and Graham Hartley.