A police sergeant who stood chest deep in freezing flood water to calm an elderly couple who were stranded in their home has been honoured for his bravery.

Sergeant Steve Grace spent an hour reassuring the pensioners as rising water from the burst River Rother in Robertsbridge lapped at his body.

Mr Grace, based at Bexhill Traffic Base, was called to reports of a fire at the height of last year's October floods.

He arrived to find the couple unable to retreat from the house, which had become smoke-logged after a small electrical fire caused by water which had breached the River Rother's banks.

Mr Grace, 35, managed to assure them help was coming as fire crews dashed to the scene.

The pensioners were later rescued to safety.

Mr Grace's superiors heaped praise on his brave actions, which they said prevented something more serious from happening to the elderly couple.

Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Tony Toynton presented Mr Grace with a certificate of merit at Bexhill Police Station.

Mr Grace, who has 15 years service in the force, said: "Naturally I'm very pleased about receiving this certificate of merit but in all honesty any one of my colleagues would have done the same had they been in my position."

ACC Toynton said: "We are very proud of him. The police service could not ask anyone to do what he did.

"He stood in the water for more than an hour to organise things.

"He did what a sergeant is expected to do, organise resources and get things moving.

"We are proud of him and grateful to him but the people who are really grateful are the people of Robertsbridge."