West Sussex police officers were honoured at an awards ceremony for their bravery and quick thinking.

Assistant Chief Constable Tony Toynton, who approved the certificates for men and women serving in the force's Western Division, told the officers they had acted above and beyond the call of duty.

He added: "These certificates are designed for people who have to go that extra mile and you did that."

PC Debbie Savage followed a robber who held up a Bognor convenience store with a knife, and arrested him after a struggle.

PC Savage was told she had shown "extreme bravery and courage."

Also honoured were PC Mark Hilman and PC David Phillips, who helped revive a drunken and violent prisoner who stopped breathing in a van while being taken from Chichester to a custody unit at Worthing.

Acting Sergeant James Asser and PC Jo French were honoured for wading into the freezing sea at Bognor to rescue a man threatening to commit suicide.

PC Marc Clothier and PC Lindsey Dod received awards for the way they dealt with the initial stages of a murder investigation at Bognor after a woman was stabbed to death at a flat in August 2000.

PC Anthony Crisp was honoured for dealing with a man involved in a domestic dispute who was armed with a knife, scissors and a razor blade.

PC Edward Bohnet was recognised for his dogged determination in tracking two thieves on foot.

PC Mark Humphreys and PC Christopher Woolerton were given certificates for detaining a man who had a knife and claimed to have a gun. He threatened to commit suicide at a home in Bracklesham Bay, near Chichester.

Bognor-based Sergeant Phil Spencer was given a certificate for drawing up an initiative designed to cut car crime and volunteer Karen Millar was presented with an award to mark her work for the Western Division cadet unit.