THREE police officers have been hailed as heroes and a credit to the force after saving the life of a man who collapsed in the street.

The man, aged 70, fell to the ground ourside the Brunswick shopping centre in Scarborough after suffering a medical episode and his condition quickly deteriorated.

PCSO Barrie Dollan was patrolling in the area and dashed to help the man. Along with the shopping centre's cleaner Ben Lacey he began CPR and requested urgent assistance from colleagues and the ambulance service.

PC Danielle Vidler, who has recently completed her tutorship, and PC Kirsty Forth, who has recently transferred to the force from Bedfordshire arrived at the scene shortly after where they took turns to deliver CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Will Knapp and other officers rushed to the scene from the police station with a defibrillator and worked together to secure an effective airway and save the man’s life.

When paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service arrived they continued chest compressions and rushed the man to Scarborough District Hospital, where he is now expected to make a full recovery.

Superintendent Alisdair Dey said: “Without the actions of our officers the outcome could have been very different.

“The paramedics who arrived at the scene stated that due to Barrie’s early actions, a life had been saved.”

He added: “We are very proud of them and they are a credit to North Yorkshire Police.”