HEROES who confronted a dangerous gunman had their efforts recognised at an awards ceremony last night.

Sergeant Andy Walton and PC Ray Taylor were among 30 officers and members of the public to receive accolades from Cleveland Police.

The pair won their tributes for apprehending a gunman in Hartlepool last September.

They struggled with the man, who was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, and knocked him to the ground.

Two brothers from Ormesby, Scott and Neil Jackson, were also commended for their bravery in detaining a man abandoning, what they believed to be, a stolen car.

The vehicle had earlier been driven at a police motor patrol.

Chief Constable Commendations went to PC Colin Hopkins and two Hartlepool businessmen, Mike Dickinson and Jon Whitfield, for their crime prevention work in the town.

Among other successful initiatives which resulted in awards were an investigation into the murder of Anthony John Clark, drugs and firearms operations.