A COURAGEOUS police officer who risked his life to rescue a man engulfed in flames has been nominated as Britain's Bravest Cop.

Rawtenstall-based PC Robert Jones has already received a national Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Award for the dramatic rescue.

And now he has been chosen by Lancashire Police Federation as their nominee for the National Police Bravery Awards in London.

The award and latest nomination both stem from a dramatic rescue on the M66 in October, 2002.

PC Jones, 32, was travelling home from work towards Manchester when he came across a car on the hard shoulder and a man engulfed in flames beside it.

The man had accidentally set himself alight while holding a cigarette at the same time as trying to fill his car with fuel.

PC Jones, who is married with three young children, realised there was a real possibility of an explosion and pulled the man away from the burning vehicle and rolled him on the ground, covered him with a coat and managed to extinguish the fire.

He then gave him first aid until the ambulance and other emergency services arrived.

The injured man was transferred to hospital with severe burns to his hands, chest, face and head but doctors said the quick-thinking actions of PC Jones saved his life.

He will be at the event held at The Dorchester, on Thursday, July, 8, in the presence of Home Secretary David Blunkett.

The star-studded occasion will follow a reception at Downing Street with Prime Minister Tony Blair where PC Jones will be among 45 of the bravest officers in England and Wales. All 43 police forces are invited to select their top candidates who are nominated by fellow officers from their local police federation for courageously going above and beyond the call of duty.

Praising him for his bravery Steve Edwards, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said: "Constable Jones acted in the best traditions of the Lancashire Constabulary, he was on his way home to his family after a busy days work, yet he still had the presence of mind and dedication to stop and put his own life at risk to save the life of another.

"His nomination recognises his courage, determination and commitment to helping the public we serve and serves once again to highlight the risks that police officers take on a daily basis. We are extremely proud of him and wish him well."