A VICAR who stopped by the roadside to help a lone police officer coax a man down from a motorway bridge today said: "It is time the public did more to help the police."

The Rev Norman Price spoke out after receiving praise for his part in the rescue in October. He stopped to help PC Justin Fraser coax a man down from the bridge over the busy Haslingden easterly bypass.

The clergyman, from St Thomas' Church, Musbury, Helmshore, has remained modest about his part in the drama despite pleas to come forward from PC Fraser.

He said: "It is time the public did more to help the police. It is very easy to kick them but a lot of the time they need our support and understanding of difficult situations.

"I am touched that PC Fraser felt I helped - it was just part of my daily ministry.

"I mentioned the incident in church the day after and we prayed for the man. That is how some of the congregation knew my involvement."

PC Fraser, 29, from Rawtenstall police station, was among a number of officers called to an incident in Helmshore Road, Haslingden, on October 17. But he was left to negotiate with a man on the wrong side of the railings of the bridge alone when a second incident occured at the same time.

PC Fraser has already received a Chief Constable's commendation from Lancashire Police for his part in the drama.

He then appealed for the 'mystery clergyman' to come forward.

But Mr Price said: "One or two of my congregation remarked that they had seen it and I told them not to tell the police it was me. I was just doing my job.

"I stopped to see if I could offer any assistance. In my last parish I was police chaplain in Cornwall.

"I listened to the chap and I have nothing but praise for PC Fraser. I thought he did a marvellous job in very difficult circumstances. It was a very, very windy night and I was worried a gust of wind might catch him.

"I don't know how long we were talking to him, I must have been there 40 minutes, but PC Fraser showed such professionalism, calmness and coolness. We were both getting very cold.

"I really didn't feel that I did anything and when the man climbed back over the railings I just got in my car and went home."

Mr Price reluctantly accepted a miniature Lancashire Constabulary carriage clock, saying it would have pride of place.

Chief Supt John Knowles said: "I am very glad to meet Mr Price and thank him and give him a small token of our gratitude. It is good to see a member of the public stop and help the police because all too often people don't."