OUTSTANDING police officers whose heroism has saved both lives and property have been commended at an awards ceremony.

Eight Wyre Forest men and women were recognised on Tuesday at Kidderminster Police Station for vigilance and bravery, including jumping into a murky canal to save an unconscious man and helping foil an armed robbery.

The evening also saw district Neighbourhood Watch supremo Sue Savidge receive an Outstanding Achievement certificate for her crime-fighting efforts.

Officers singled out for praise included PCs David Williams and John Irving who raced to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Clensmore, Kidderminster, in August.

They found a man unconscious in the water and leapt in to fish him out.

The pair then performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on him - "which undoubtedly saved his life" according to police spokeswoman Caroline Schubert.

An armed robbery in Birmingham was stopped in its tracks after detectives Steven Philips and Mark Bissett verified a tip-off and then informed their West Midlands colleagues.

Three suspects were arrested with a sawn-off shotgun, a pistol and a revolver as they prepared to hold up a Kingstanding post office.

Other acclaimed officers were DC Alex Farmer, who detained a shoplifter outside the Franche Co-op in Kidderminster in June while off-duty.

The woman was aggressive and two other people joined in to try and intimidate the officer - who held firm for 15 minutes until help arrived.

"He showed extreme professionalism above and beyond the call of duty as it was outside his working hours," said Mrs Schubert.

PC Phillipa Charlesworth endured "threatening" behaviour after she chanced on a suspected burglar outside a house in Birchen Coppice, Kidderminster, last month.

She arrested the man but several other "acquaintances", all "very hostile", plagued her for 10 minutes until back-up arrived.

And an armed robber wanted for raiding two premises in Kidderminster town centre in the last two years has now been detained in a secure hospital after he was recognised by PC Rick King in September 2001.

Mr King recognised who the fugitive was from a picture that had been circulated and he was subsequently arrested.

Dog handler PC Chris Bourne helped deal with a volatile crowd in Kidderminster town centre in May this year.