TWO Richmond police officers have been commended for quick-thinking and bravery beyond the call of duty.

Michaela Godridge and Martin Usher were among those who received awards from North Yorkshire's western area commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Parker, at a ceremony at the Manor Hotel in Boroughbridge.

PC Godridge, who has only just finished her probation, used her training as an Army combat medic to help a critically injured man at the scene of an accident on the A66, in December.

Joining a lorry driver who had stopped to help, she tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques to keep the victim alive, while a colleague dealt with the traffic.

However, she was forced to stop assisting the casualty's breathing when he began to bleed from the mouth. He later died of his injuries.

Nevertheless, Chief Superintendent Parker said PC Godridge's contribution went above and beyond that which could have been expected and was in the best traditions of the police service.

Meanwhile, PC Usher was commended for rescuing a man standing waist-deep in water ten yards from the banks of the swollen River Swale, at Richmond, in October.

The man ignored pleas to return to safety, even moving further away from the bank.

However, PC Usher won the man's confidence to wade out to him and then persuaded the man to return to land with the help of ropes supplied by a member of the public and the lifebelt on the riverside.