A PRESTON police officer, who chased armed robbers at high speed after being shot, is to receive a bravery award from the Prime Minister.

Police constable David Bentley has been voted the pluckiest officer in England in an event organised by the police federation and sponsored by The Sun newspaper.

The celebrations take place at Number 10 with Prime Minister Tony Blair and continue at the up-market Savoy Hotel in London where Home Secretary, David Blunkett, will join the celebrations along with 65 of the nation's bravest officers.

Last year PC Bentley gave chase to a gang of robbers in a car who had already blasted him in the leg and shot at five members of the public.

The drama unfolded after a plain-clothes officer spotted a Rover car travelling on the M6 motorway near Lancaster with suspected false number plates.

Unaware that the occupants of the car had just committed an armed robbery -- with guns still in the back of the vehicle -- the officer radioed the then motorway police officer PC Bentley, who tailed the car for some distance.

As the Rover pulled onto the hard shoulder of the motorway PC Bentley got out of his car and was horrified to be faced with a masked gunman who fired at him.

One bullet went through his car door window and another bounced off the ground, hitting him in the leg.

The gunmen then sped off towards Manchester with PC Bentley in close pursuit. Both cars sped onto a housing estate in Bolton where the officer was shot at again.

After dragging an innocent woman from her car at gunpoint, the robber hijacked her vehicle and the chase was taken up by officers from Greater Manchester Police.

After more than an hour until the gang crashed their car and were taken into police custody.

Steve Edwards, chairman of Lancashire's Police Federation, said: "Dave has continued with the fine tradition of bravery and tenacity of the highest degree.

"Even when his life was in danger, he continued to pursue these gangster with courage and dedication above and beyond the call of duty."

He added: "Thanks to him and the actions of the other officers, these extremely dangerous men are off the streets and the people of Lancashire and Greater Manchester can sleep easier."