LIFE-saving police officers who went above and beyond the call of duty were rewarded for their dedication at a special ceremony held in Melksham on Wednesday.

Sgt Pete Sparrow and PCs Simon Cowdrey, James Williams, Maria Banfield and Jonathan Wyer received certificates of merit for their part in saving a woman who jumped into the canal at Semington.

When the officers arrived at the scene on May 2 last year, the woman was nowhere in sight and, despite it being pitch black they managed to find her and drag her out of the water.

PC Williams said: "There is a lot of adrenaline as you go to the scene and a lot of things going through your mind but when you get there, because you work as a shift, you naturally fall into your own role.

"I'm very pleased that we have all been recognised as a team."

For PC Richard Gardner, another call to a suicidal member of the

public was under very different

circumstances.

PC Gardner was the only available officer to respond to an incident at Lower Stanton St Quinton, near Chippenham, on December 5.

He had dealt with the person in question before and knew he had mental health problems and a history of violence when drunk.

On this occasion the man had taken a large amount of painkillers and wandered off into nearby woodland.

When the officer found him the man threatened him and said he had a gun but, despite this, PC Gardner managed to defuse the situation and keep it under control until help arrived.

He said: "I was in a field, it was pitch black, he was threatening me with a gun and I was a little worried.

"After it is over you do think 'I got away with that one' but I don't think I was in any more danger than I have been in the past."

Two other officers, who cannot be named for operational reasons, were also recognised for their bravery in difficult situations.

One was off duty and shopping in The Shires shopping centre in Trowbridge in February last year when he saw a youth fire a gun into a shop.

The officer quickly disarmed and detained the offender, despite not knowing whether the gun, which turned out to be a BB gun, was real or not.

A youth had also fired a gun at drivers in Church Street earlier in the day and police armed response teams had been called in.

In the other incident an officer was one of the first to arrive at the scene of a stabbing in Holt on June 15.

He secured the area, identified the offender and administered first aid that probably saved the life of the victim, who has now made a complete recovery.

Presenting the awards on Wednesday was Superintendent Pete Russ and Inspector Sarah Bodell.

Supt Russ said: "We need to recognise particular occasions when officers have gone well beyond their daily routine and this morning we have seen that with the certificates which have been presented."