A POLICE officer who dived into icy water to rescue a suicidal teenager has been honoured for his bravery.

Durham PC Peter Tate, 28, is to receive an award from the Royal Humane Society for his fearless attempt to save a 16-year-old girl from the River Wear.

PC Tate, from Ouston, and his colleague Sgt Steve Donnelly had been called to New Elvet Bridge in Durham at about midnight on October 28 last year, where the girl was balanced precariously on the wrong side of the parapet about 20ft above water.

While Sgt Donnelly tried to talk the girl out of jumping, PC Tate collected a lifebelt from the police station and positioned himself on the river bank.

Eventually the girl, who seemed to be under the influence of drink and drugs, lost her balance and fell backwards, hitting the water head first.

Without hesitation, PC Tate jumped in and swam 20 metres into the river with the lifebelt, while her anorak kept her afloat. She was unconscious and slipped out of the ring so PC Tate swam over to her again and pulled her back to shore.

But the daring bobby did not dwell on the rescue. After climbing out of the river he went home to get showered and then returned to finish his shift.

He said: "I haven't really thought about it much since it happened, to be truthful. But it was a very pleasant surprise when I came back from leave to find I had this award."

Secretary of the Royal Humane Society, Major General Christopher Tyler congratulated PC Tate on his achievement. He said: "The water was deep and cold and the night was dark, yet he unhesitatingly swam 20 metres to save this girl. He is a credit to the force and thoroughly deserves his award."

It is the police officer's second act of bravery to win him an award. He was presented with Durham Constabulary's Matt Wilkinson Trophy for outstanding policing after he pulled a woman from a burning car in Gilesgate Durham when working as a rookie PC in April 2000.

His rescue also earned him a commendation from Protection of Life from Fire.