POLICE officers have been awarded for their bravery at a ceremony at their North Yorkshire headquarters.

North Yorkshire Police Temporary Chief Superintendent Lisa Winward hosted the event at Newby Wiske on Wednesday (October 29).

Police community support officers and members of the public were also honoured for their bravery and quick-thinking with faced with life or death situations.

PC Mike Cooper risked his own life in February when he caught a woman before she attempted to jump from Ouse Bridge in York.

In the early hours of February 14, PC Cooper was dealing with a drunk and aggressive group on the bridge when he spotted a woman climbing up the parapet of the bridge who was obviously drunk and unsteady on her feet.

PC Cooper said: “As she teetered on the top of the bridge, there was nothing separating her from a significant drop into the icy water below which was heavily flooded.”

Heraced over to her and caught her as she fell off the bridge, taking her entire weight as she fell towards the water before pulling her to safety and ensuring she was returned home.

In March PC Richard Farrar's quick thinking saved the life of a man who jumped into the River Foss in York.

The man was wanted by police for breaching court bail conditions, and ran off from the police as they approached him.

To try and escape, he jumped into the River Foss, where his body quickly went into shock and he could not swim.

PC Farrar fashioned a flotation aid from a nearby parasol base, threw it to the man in the water and pulled him to safety.

T/Chief Supt Winward said: "The officers involved in these rescues have displayed quick thinking, bravery and inventiveness, putting their own safety at risk in the process."