SEVEN police officers from north Wiltshire have been praised for their bravery and outstanding work at the divisional commanders' awards ceremony.

The awards were presented last week at the Melksham headquarters by Amanda Evely, Chief Superintendent Divisional Commander, to officers who had gone beyond the line of duty or worked admirably under difficult circumstances.

"The police have never been under more scrutiny that they are today. These were incidents where you have got it extremely right," said Chief Supt Evely.

PCs Andy Pullen and Dave Eddy were awarded certificates of merit for their work at a house siege in Woodlands Road, Chippenham in June 2001.

The drama began when Anita Edwards went to the house, which she thought was empty, to collect some belongings with her sister Julie Tuck.

Once there they were confronted by Mrs Edwards' husband Stephen, who was armed with a knife.

Mrs Tuck, 39, was stabbed 18 times in the chest and stomach before escaping to a neighbour's house who called the police. She later recovered.

Mrs Edwards was left in the house with her husband who told police he had a gun. Mr Edwards, 36, eventually gave himself up. Mrs Edwards was not injured.

The two officers were commended for their professional manner during the siege, even though they were under threat themselves.

Awards were also given to officers Nigel Williams and Dom Gerety, who worked valiantly to try and save the life of a man who had collapsed and injured his head in Corsham town centre in November last year.

PC Nigel Williams gave the man mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while an off duty nurse started doing chest compressions.

PC Gerety then arrived at the scene and took over the chest compressions.

They managed to restore the pensioner's breathing and pulse for a short time, but unfortunately the man died.

Sgt Matt Stone was awarded for his calm negotiation at a incident in Allington Way, Chippenham, last November.

He attended a scene where a drunk offender was wielding an iron bar and carrying his nine-month-old baby in his arms as a shield against the police. Sgt Stone and another officer negotiated with the man and the child was eventually brought to safety and the offender arrested.

Late at night last November in Purton three offenders wearing balaclavas and armed with baseball bats, smashed their way into a shop and stole cigarettes.

PC Steve Rawson was one of two officers who spotted a suspicious vehicle and pursued it. The offenders drove at high speeds and tried to avoid being stopped.

At one point the offenders rammed the police car and one of them attacked the vehicle with the baseball bat.

The officers continued to pursue them but had to abandon pursuit because there was a danger of it causing someone some serious harm.

PC Rawson was commended for acting calmly and bravely.

WPC Julie Mason was one of two women in the north and west Wiltshire district to receive an award of merit. On April 7 this year she was involved in an incident with a man threatening to throw himself off a railway bridge in Chippenham.

WPC Mason was about to go home at the end of her shift when she heard that the man was on the bridge.

Because she had dealt with him previously, she felt she could help and volunteered to return to duty.

She managed to engage the young man in conversation. and persuaded him to move back away from the edge, putting him out of danger where he could be rescued.

WPC Mason admitted afterwards that she did not like heights.

Chief Supt Evely said the awards proved that the district had the finest officers who were ready to deal with unsuspected incidents as well as routine police work.

"We never know what is around the corner," she said.