THE policeman blinded by killer Raoul Moat was today nominated to be honoured for his courage with a Pride of Britain award.

Pc David Rathband lost the sight in both eyes when he was shot in the face by the on-the-run gunman as he sat in his marked patrol car at an A1 roundabout in Newcastle four months ago.

But the father-of-two refused to let the fugitive destroy his life and founded a charity, the Blue Lamp Foundation, to help other members of the emergency services injured in the line of duty.

The 42-year-old Northumbria Police officer said: "Its an honour to even be considered.

"But I don't consider myself to be any braver than any other police officer in the country."

Pc Rathband is one of four finalists who are in the running for Daybreaks Emergency Services Award at the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards 2010.

HRH Prince Charles and the Prime Minister David Cameron are taking part in the award ceremony.

The other inspiring finalists are fireman Dean Seaward, 48, of Blackpool, Pc Steve Hargrave, 41, of Sussex, and paramedic Jeanette Yeoell, 54, also Sussex.

The winner will receive the award from presenters Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles at the star-studded ceremony at the Grosvenor House on London's Park Lane, next month.

The event, to be screened on ITV1, was the highest rated awards show on TV last year with around seven million viewers.