16201/1A POLICE officer, a dog and its owner have all been rewarded for their part in saving the life of an elderly woman.

PC Ben Braine, Ziggy, a Jack Russell, and Ziggy's owner Robert Brandler were all given a certificates of merit at a ceremony in Marlborough police station last week.

The dog's certificate was made out to Ziggy J Russell and it was probably the first time a certificate of merit has been presented to a dog in Wiltshire.

PC Braine, 46, is based in Marlborough but currently working with the peacekeeping forces in near Basra in Iraq.

The officer, who was previously acting section commander at Pewsey, was on two-weeks home leave when he attended the awards ceremony.

Last October PC Braine went to Chilton Foliat after a family reported that an elderly woman who was suicidal had headed for the River Kennet.

The Wiltshire police helicopter used a thermal imaging device to locate a heat source in the river. Although darkness was falling, PC Braine waded into the river.

The commotion caused Ziggy, an excitable 18-month-old, to bark loudly attracting the attention of his owner, Robert Brandler.

In the meantime PC Braine was waist deep in the water with deep silt making his movements difficult.

Following guidance from the helicopter, the officer located the woman who was lying in the water but had difficulty in getting her to the side of the river because of the deep mud.

Mr Brandler, a commodity trader who moved into the village last year, was alerted by Ziggy's barking.

He went to the officer's aid and helped get the woman to dry land.

The woman was airlifted to the Great Western Hospital suffering from hypothermia but made a full recovery.

Salisbury Divisional Commander, Ch Supt Jerry Wickham presented the framed certificates.

Just as he had reeled off personal details of the other recipients, the chief superintendent managed to keep a straight face as he said: "Ziggy, an 18-month-old Jack Russell, was born in County Down, Northern Ireland.

"He was given away to the Brandler family as a nine-week old, malnourished runt with little chance of survival. Nursed to full health, he is now a happy and confident dog."

In addition to the certificate, Ziggy was given a bag of dog treats which seemed to please him rather more.

Ch Supt Wickham, who was formerly based in Marlborough as a sergeant, said: "Without Ziggy's barking this lady may not have survived."

He said that the awards were only given in exceptional circumstances where officers had exceeded what might reasonably have been expected of them.

PC Braine has been in the Wiltshire constabulary for 26 years. He was seconded to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Bosnia in 2002 and is currently on another 12-month secondment in Iraq.

Ch Supt Wickham also presented an award to Sgt Steve McGrath for the way he led an investigation into a report of a serious sexual assault at the Amber Foundation rehabilitation centre in Savernake Forest in September 2003.