The policeman son of murdered PC Keith Blakelock has been officially honoured by his North-East force for bravely tackling a knifeman.

PC Lee Blakelock had "followed in his father's footsteps", his proud mother said last night.

Lee received a commendation from his chief constable, along with a fellow officer, after the pair managed to subdue a man who was holding his ex-partner at knifepoint in front of their seven-year-old son.

PC Keith Blakelock was hacked to death in 1985 during rioting at the Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham, north London.

He left three sons Mark, now 31, Kevin, 29, and 26-year-old Lee who joined Durham Police in December 2000.

Lee's mother, Elizabeth Johnson, who has remarried and has a seven-year-old son, Jordan, said: "Even when his dad was alive he wanted to be a policeman.

"It was not because of what happened to his dad that he joined the police.

"It was following in his father's footsteps, but not because of what happened.

"I am extremely proud of Lee as I am of all my sons."

Mrs Johnson, 51, said Lee did not want to overshadow the bravery shown by PC Glen Davies who was with him on the night in October 2002.

She added: "It is important to Lee that people know it was a joint effort with his colleague."

The pair responded to reports of glass breaking and raised voices at an address in Sunny Blunts, Peterlee, County Durham.

They found a 35-year-old armed with a knife, an air pistol and a can of petrol who had returned to his former home which he had shared with the mother of his son.

The man - in breach of bail conditions following a similar incident weeks earlier - threatened his ex-partner and her new boyfriend in full view of his child.

The man confronted the two officers as he clutched a knife to the woman's throat.

They were alarmed to see a firearm tucked into the waistband of his trousers and only later did they find out it was an air pistol.

As he tried to barricade himself into the house, the officers managed to wrestle the weapons from him and make the arrest.

He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court in February and admitted a series of charges including assault, possession of an imitation firearm and three counts of false imprisonment, said a Durham Police spokesman.

In an official report, Inspector Paul Harrison said PCs Davies and Blakelock had "averted a very serious situation and possibly saved one or more lives".

PC Davies, 36, said: "To be honest it was all over so quickly it only seemed that serious after it finished."

PC Blakelock, who lives in Sunderland, and PC Davies were commended at a ceremony by Chief Constable Paul Garvin.