POLICE officers, firefighters and paramedics have been recognised for their bravery and good conduct at a ceremony this week.

North Yorkshire chief constable Della Cannings, Lord Mayor of York Janet Greenwood and chairman of the county's police authority, Jane Kenyon, presented the awards at the force's headquarters, in Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, on Wednesday.

A certificate of appreciation was awarded to off-duty ambulance man Anthony Gorse for his actions at a fatal car accident on Seamer Moor Road, Scarborough, in May.

He was first to arrive at the two-car collision where he took charge of the scene and tried to resuscitate one of drivers, who did not survive.

At the time, Mr Gorse was suffering from an injured sternum and punctured lung, received days before when another vehicle collided with his ambulance.

A commendation was given to DS Guy Wilson, of the response team at York, for the methodical and controlled manner in which he stopped an offender armed with a knife from becoming seriously or fatally wounded.

He also prevented members of the public and other officers from being seriously injury in Danebury Drive, York, in September last year.

Commendations were also awarded to Sergeant Chris Gosling and Sergeant Martin McLachlan, from Scarborough, for challenging, overpowering and arresting two men armed with a baseball bat and a knife who were threatening members of the public in Victoria Road, Scarborough, in February.

Long service and good conduct awards were presented to Inspector Peter Gold, Inspector Nick Turnbull, Superintendent Javad Ali, DS Neil Stanton, PC Peter McCreedy, Detective Constable Andy Wilman, PC Mark Robinson, Inspector Neil Burnett, special constable Glen Ford, former special constable David Mappin and Gill Vickers, an administration officer at Richmond.