A POLICE officer has been praised for rescuing a suspect from the freezing River Calder near Padiham town hall.

Sergeant Graeme Fearn, of Padiham Police, said senior officers will be made aware of the actions of PC Peter Gregson.

He said: "At about 3am yesterday two people were spotted acting suspiciously in the town centre and the police gave chase.

"At the rear of the town hall the two jumped into the river and after several minutes PC Peter Gregson found one of the men clutching the bank immersed in freezing water and so numb he was unable to pull himself out."

PC Gregson pulled the 19-year-old, from Padiham, from the water and arrested him.

The Lancashire Police helicopter was called in to help officers search the river for the other teenager, but evidence was found that he had left the water.

A 17-year-old youth, from Padiham, was arrested yesterday morning.

Sgt Fearn said: "If the officer had not found him and got him out of the water he would probably have ended up in hospital.

"If he had stayed in the water much longer it could have been much more serious because he was so cold."

The pair have been interviewed about burglaries in the Pendle area.

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