TWO Salisbury policemen who risked their lives to save a man threatening to set fire to himself at a filling station have been honoured at an awards ceremony.

PCs David Garrod and Peter Jung have received Chief Constable's certificates of commendation for meritorious service.

PCs Garrod and Jung were acclaimed for the way they acted during a frightening incident at the Shell Bemerton service station in Wilton Road, Salisbury, on Saturday October 13 last year.

A man had poured petrol over himself and was kneeling down in the pool of inflammable liquid, saying he intended to set himself alight.

On their arrival at the scene, the officers ensured the pumps had been turned off at the main switch and then approached the man and engaged him in conservation - without regard to their own safety.

The man remained sitting in the pool of petrol, flicking a cigarette lighter on and off.

He refused to discuss his problems or tell the officers who he was.

But they continued to talk to him until PC Jung was able to hold his attention for just long enough to allow PC Garrod to lunge forward and grapple with the man and remove the lighter from his grasp.

PC Jung helped PC Garrod restrain the man, who was later arrested under the Mental Health Act and admitted to a psychiatric hospital.