LONG-SERVING policemen and officers who have gone beyond the call of duty were due to receive special awards today.

Eleven officers have been singled out for long service and good conduct medals, two will receive Chief Constable Commendations and Royal Humane Society Commendations and two will be awarded European Security and Defence Policy Service Medals for service in Bosnia.

Trowbridge-based PC Roland Jones received the Chief Constable Commenda- tion and the Royal Humane Society Commendation for rescuing a suicidal woman from the canal at Semington.

He plunged into the Kennet and Avon Canal at 2.15am on May 2 with only a torch to guide him towards the distressed 22-year-old.

PC Jones said: "I'm quite chuffed but I only did what any of my colleagues would have done. I feel honoured but I was just doing my job."

The former Royal Navy man received a report that the woman was going to jump off the Semington Bridge but she was found in the water half a mile from the road.

The woman, who was suffering from hypothermia, was taken to hospital in Bath, but was later discharged.

PC Jones said: "You never think about what you are doing at the time. I was pleased to save a life. It makes you feel elated. It is difficult to put into words."

Det Sgt Dave Martin was due to receive a long service and good conduct medal for completing 22 years in the police force.

DS Martin hit the national headlines earlier this year for tactics used to snare serial paedophile Peter Hamilton-Leggett.

He used Friends Reunited to track down former pupils of the Old Ride School, Bradford on Avon, who had been sexually abused by the retired teacher.

Hamilton-Leggett, 58, of Old Station Lane, Yelverton, Devon, admitted 54 charges of abuse on boys as young as eight and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Other local officers receiving long service awards include PC Clive Carey, detective chief superintendent Paul Howlett and detective constable Robert Carver.

DS Dave Martin, who will also pick up a judge's commendation for the Hamilton-Leggett inquiry, said working to get justice for abuse victims was among his career highpoint.

"I want to do my best for the victims of crime. The satisfying cases are where I can help out children or vulnerable people who have been abused. These victims will be the ones I remember. I hope a few will remember me."