TWO fearless police officers have been hailed as heroes for risking their own lives to stop a man from diving off a 60ft high bridge.

One of the Durham duo, Sergeant Sue Robinson, is already the region's bravest bobby following a separate incident earlier this year.

Now, with colleague PC Gary Coulson, she is to receive a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum signed and approved by its president Princess Alexandra.

Sergeant Robinson, 34, and PC Coulson, 41, grabbed the man seconds before he tried to throw himself off a bridge at North Close, Spennymoor, on to the busy A688 road.

The society's citation describes how they acted with "selfless courage", moving slowly towards him. When his mobile phone rang, they hurled themselves forward against the bridge railings and made a dramatic lunge to save him, even though they risked being pulled over by his weight.

Both officers were left badly bruised by their tussle with the man, who was very drunk, emotional and abusive.

PC Coulson said yesterday: "Sue approached him from one side and I went from the other. We exchanged a glance and together we grabbed him. At that point he tried to jump and his foot came off the parapet."

Durham's Assistant Chief Constable Gary Barnett said: "They acted with great presence of mind. They took decisive action with no thought for themselves and saved a man from serious injury or death."