A POLICE Community Support Officer (PCSO) has received an outstanding service award after carrying a woman and her dog home when she collapsed in the street.

Once he got Denise Anklam home, PCSO Trev Patterson discovered she was the sole carer of her partner, David, who has advanced Huntingdon’s disease, and has since organised more care and support for her.

Ms Anklam was walking her dog, Pip, near their home in Stanhope in Weardale, County Durham, on March 15, when she stopped to talk to PCSO Patterson.

The 56-year-old said: “For two weeks before it happened, I had been experiencing a swimming sensation, a bit like sea-sickness, and when I was speaking to Trev I started to feel disorientated.

“I can’t remember what happened next but I collapsed.

“Trev picked me up as if I was a feather and he got me and Pip home.

“He called for a paramedic and was then a real angel and went down to the shop to get me a chocolate bar.”

Ms Anklam was diagnosed with vertigo and had collapsed because of low sugar levels, due in part to the stress of looking after her partner of 26 years, who was diagnosed with Huntingdon’s disease 16 years ago.

PCSO Patterson, 36, said: “I got her home and it was then I realised just how much Denise was coping with, so I did everything I could to ensure she got proper help.”

His actions have earned him a Wow award, which is presented to police officers who are deemed to have gone beyond the call of duty and delivered outstanding service.

Chief Superintendent Ian Macdonald said: “This is a first class example of how PCSOs support the community and PCSO Patterson deserves recognition for his commitment to helping the people he serves.”