A POLICE officer and a member of the public who stopped a man from bleeding to death have been rewarded for their actions.

PC Tony Slaney, of Northallerton Police, and Gareth Hare, from Northallerton, have won certificates of commendation from the Royal Humane Society.

It was at 2am on November 6 last year that PC Slaney, on duty in the Elder Road area of Northallerton, saw Mark Raw, from Brompton, leaving the Amadeus nightclub with blood spurting from his neck.

According to the Royal Humane Society citation, he and Mr Hare immediately applied first aid, but had great difficulty stemming the flow of blood. PC Slaney only managed it by applying pressure to the wound with his hands.

The two men lowered Mr Raw to the ground, while PC Slaney continued to apply pressure. They kept him conscious until an ambulance arrived six minutes later.

Mr Raw was taken to the Friarage Hospital, before being transferred to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

As well as the award, PC Slaney and Mr Hare have won the praise of Major General David Pennefather, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.

He said: "The doctor on duty said that Mr Raw would have died had these men not applied direct pressure to the wound and stemmed the bleeding.

"PC Slaney deserves particular credit for taking on the gruesome responsibility of stemming the flow with his own hands. Truly, the fast actions of these men saved Mr Raw's life, and they thoroughly deserve their awards."

The awards have been made on the recommendation of the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, Della Cannings.

The ceremony is expected to take place in the near future.