COURAGEOUS police officers from East Lancashire who risked their lives in the line of duty have been commended by a national hero.

Fifteen East Lancashire officers were last night presented with 2004 Lancashire Constabulary Bravery Awards at a ceremony attended by Falklands hero Simon Weston.

Among the winners were PCs Chris Kett, Martin Gallagher, Kazim Garda and David Hogan, who chased a van involved in an armed robbery at a Royal Mail depot in Clitheroe last April.

The officers believed the vehicle contained two armed men who had just carried out the raid but ignored the potential danger to continue the chase.

PC Garda, who lives in Blackburn, was the first out of his vehicle and instructed the driver and passenger to lie on the ground. He said: "We believed they were still armed at the time but it was just instinct. It is a privilege to receive this award and it feels good to be appreciated." Speaking about the awards, and all 21 officers from Lancashire Constabulary who were commended, Simon Weston, who has battled back from horrific burn injuries after an Argentine attack on his ship during the Falklands War, said: "Members of the police, and of other uniformed services, have to deal with these sorts of things every day of the week. These people have to face it down and that takes tremendous courage. When it comes down to it these are the first people we call when there is trouble.

"They are brave just to put the uniform on and I am privileged to be a part of this."

Other award winners, who live across East Lancashire, at last night's event, at Barton Grange Hotel, near Preston, included PCs Martin Ward, Martin Legdon, Jacqueline Caton and Michelle McNulty, who risked their own lives to save pensioner Annie Mclaughlin from a fire at her Burnley home in November.

They had to break into the house and battle through smoke and flames to carry the pensioner to safety.

PC McNulty, who lives in Colne, said: "It was a team effort. We are pleased with the award, it's nice to be recognised."

Other Pennine Division winners were PCs Iftekhar Ali, who persuaded a knife man to put down the weapon, Craig Smedley, Jonathon Lobb, Bernadette Shorrock and Neil Goodison, who saved the life of a Burnley woman caught in a house fire, Robert Jones, who saved a man engulfed in flames after a car accident, and Mark Whittaker, who disarmed a man who was threatening his wife with a knife.

Chief Constable Paul Stephenson said: "As a direct result of these officers' actions lives have been saved, serious crimes have been prevented and dangerous criminals have been apprehended. The recipients have a shared ingredient, the determination to do the right thing for the benefit of others."