A SENIOR police officer has praised the bravery of one of his officers who had part of his finger ripped off while in pursuit of a gang of crooks.

Preston Police Constable Mark Pass is still receiving physiotherapy for his injury, which happened as he chased a gang from the Lancashire Waste Services tip, in Tom Benson Way, Preston.

Inspector George Forster, based at Preston Police Station, said: "It was a terrible accident which happened while an officer was diligently carrying out his duties.

"It highlights the dangers that police officers face on a daily basis while carrying out their duties to make the community a safe place to live."

PC Pass' finger was caught in razor-sharp spikes on top of a metal fence as he climbed over it. His finger was severed at the joint.

Eager to save the officer's finger his colleague, PC Damion Hamilton, retrieved it and rushed to Royal Preston Hospital, where surgeons attempted to attach it back to Mark's hand.

He was later transferred to a specialist unit at Withington Hospital, in Manchester, where, unfortunately, surgeons failed to save his finger.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.