A POLICE officer has received two commendations for his actions while on duty.

PC Stuart Ross, who is stationed at Newton Aycliffe, gained the awards for his actions while he was an officer serving with the Metropolitan Police, based in London's Lewisham division.

The first was for trying to resuscitate a man who had jumped in front of a car.

PC Ross and a colleague saw a group of people around the man, who was lying in the middle of the road.

At first he thought the man was drunk, but then realised he had serious head injuries and broken ribs.

The officers tried to resuscitate the man but despite their efforts, he died later.

PC Ross was also commended for tackling and disarming a man who had a loaded air pistol, which he pointed at the officer.

PC Ross said: "In that situation you think, do I scarper or do I approach him?

"I took him to the floor and disarmed him. We later found out it was an air pistol, but I didn't know that at the time."

PC Ross, 32, has received two previous commendations, both for disarming a man with a knife.

He said: "It's a great privilege to receive awards for just doing your job, but it makes it all worthwhile."