EIGHT real-life heroes have been rewarded for their courage and quick-thinking.

Five police officers and three members of the public were presented with certificates from three separate national bodies for their actions at a series of incidents last year.

The seven men and one woman saved or gave assistance at a house fire, a stabbing, a car crash and a suicide attempt.

Yesterday, the mayor of Darlington, Councillor Marian Swift presented them with certificates at a ceremony in the town hall.

Coun Swift said: "On behalf of the residents of Darlington, we are very proud that we have people like you and grateful for all that you have done for us.

"These awards are well deserved.

We wish you all the very best for the future."

Superintendent Carole Thompson, area commander for Darlington, said: "I have had great pleasure in the knowledge the actions of our officers and members of the public, who, with little thought for themselves, have attempted to assist others who have found themselves in difficult or life-threatening situations.

"I endorse all their commendations."

Health workers Catherine Goodwin and Les Abbott along with police officer Jason Higgins were commended for their battle to save a stabbing victim's life while the murder suspect was still at large.

Mrs Goodwin, an out-of-hours district nurse with Darlington Primary Care Trust, and St Teresa's Hospice health care assistant Mr Abbott came across PC Higgins as he tried to help the injured man.

The victim was Michael Gatenby, 23, who had been stabbed five times, and was found in Hundens Lane, Darlington, in July last year. An 18-year-old man was later convicted for his murder.

Mr Abbott, of Darlington, said: "We thought there had been an accident at first - that a child had been knocked down - so we turned around and went to help."

The pair worked to stem the flow of blood and give basic life support before helping administer blood and fluids in the ambulance.

Mrs Goodwin, of Spennymoor, who was 14 weeks pregnant at the time of the incident, said: "The saddest thing was that no one knew the man's name or what had happened to him. He would have been on his own.

"In the end, sadly, he didn't make it, but at least we helped make it a bit more dignified for him."

PC Higgins, who had just returned to work after being on paternity leave, said: "I am really pleased that the health staff have received an award. It is right that they should get some recognition."

All three received certificates of commendation from the Order of St John.

PC Stephen Deakin was presented with an award from the Royal Humane Society for his actions which prevented a woman from killing herself.

Last December, PC Deakin was called to a report of a 24-year-old woman who was threatening to throw herself off a rail bridge over the River Skerne, 40ft above the water.

He began talking to the distraught woman and gained her trust.

In the dark and slippery conditions, he was able to climb out onto the ledge to get near her.

When the time was right he was able to grab her round the waist and prevent her from jumping.

PC Deakin, 41, said: "I was quite scared, it was raining hard and slippery. We had nothing to stop us falling.

"However, the young lady was obviously very, very distraught.

"If it wasn't me, then someone else would have had to help her, and her safety was paramount.

"I'm absolutely over the moon to get this award. It's the second one I've got."

PC Michael Davison and Gerald Osborne were presented with an award from St John Ambulance for helping the victims of a serious accident on the A66.

The incident happened on December 19 last year.

Mr Osborne, 52, from Middlesbrough, was parked in a lay-by heading towards Middlesbrough when he heard a crash.

PC Davison was driving the other direction when he noticed the crashed Nissan Micra.

He immediately parked up and crossed both lanes of traffic to help.

One of the passengers in the car was a two-year-old girl who had stopped breathing.

She was secured in a child seat which had been pushed forward by the impact and was trapped in the car.

The pair were able to enter by the passenger-side door and free her from the seat.

They then proceeded to perform heart massage and kiss of life. After a few minutes, the girl started breathing again.

Shortly after, paramedics arrived and she was taken to hospital.

Mr Osborne, a trained firstaider and a driver for a timber firm, said: "I never normally stop in the lay-by.

"I've never done first aid to that degree. I'm quite proud of myself because as a result of what we did, the little girl started breathing again.

"I never really expected anything, it's just something you do."

PC Davison said: "We knew we had to get her out of the car and we worked as a team to do that and the when we did the CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

"It's nice to be acknowledged and it's nice to know that there was something we could do that was worthwhile."

Police officers Sam Turner and Iain Wise were recognised for their bravery after they forced their way into a burning building to help rescue a family trapped inside.

The pair were first on the scene at the fire in Inverary Close, Darlington. Realising there were people trapped inside, the officers tried to force the front door but found it locked.

Quick-thinking PC Turner grabbed a mop and smashed one of the door's small panes of glass, allowing PC Wise to reach in and unlock the door.

PC Turner said: "The hall was literally filled with smoke and the flames were lighting up the kitchen and hall.

"There was a bare-chested male, his body literally black from the smoke, lying on the floor. We both grabbed him and dragged him out of the house."

The pair gave the man first aid and when he became conscious, were able to establish where the five other people in the house were. They relayed this to firefighters who found the occupants, including a four-year-old girl, upstairs.

PC Wise said: "It is nice to be presented with something like this. It is not often it happens."

The pair received certificates from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.