AN off-duty police officer and her mother who rescued a drowning woman are among those who will be honoured at an awards ceremony tomorrow.

PC Rachael Brennan and her mother, Anne Brennan, saved a woman from drowning in March.

The pair were walking a dog on the beach at South Shields, South Tyneside, when they saw a woman floating face-up about 30 metres from the shore.

PC Brennan asked surfers to stay with her mother while she went for help, but before she had time to find a telephone, her mother had gone into the sea and was bringing the woman back to shore.

The woman was taken to hospital and recovered, and Mrs Brennan was treated at the scene for the effects of hypothermia.

The pair will receive commendations from the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Crispian Strachan, at a ceremony in Newcastle.

James Scott, from Tynemouth Voluntary Lifeboat Service, is to receive a Chief Constable's commendation for his part in rescuing a man from the sea off South Shields in July.

Other Northumbria Police officers to receive the honour include PCs Mark Rochester, Ray Dunn, Douglas Robinson and Helen Hunter, who dealt with men armed with knives in incidents in Whitley Bay, in North Tyneside, and Sunderland.

Eleven officers will be awarded long service and good conduct medals, two support staff will receive long service awards and two Special Constables will be presented with long service awards.