FOUR police officers caught up in a bridge rescue 100ft above the ground have received national acclaim for their bravery.

Inspector Eddie Bell, Acting Sergeant Des O'Hanlon and PCs Phil Boyd and Jed Nixon put themselves at risk to stop a woman jumping from the Gill Bridge in Consett, County Durham.

Their team effort has earned them all testimonials on parchment from the Royal Humane Society.

The drama unfolded at about 5am on a July day last year when Insp Bell, responding to reports a woman was planning to jump from the bridge, found her climbing over the safety railings.

He backed off, fearing she would be frightened and jump.

When the other officers arrived shortly afterwards, Sgt O'Hanlon got to within 3ft of the woman, talking to her for more than 15 minutes.

When she swung her legs over a ledge and leaned forward, he reached through railings and grabbed her right wrist.

The woman, who had been drinking, struggled to break free, but the other officers rushed forward and leaned over the railings to make her secure.

Insp Bell said: "At that point, the extra height and weight of the officers on the tops of the 100-year-old railings greatly increased the very real danger of collapse.

"The woman, who was either struggling or non-compliant, was finally lifted bodily over the railings and back to safety."

The woman was initially detained under the Mental Health Act but, after examination by a specialist, was returned to her family.