NINE police officers are to receive Chief Constable's commendations for outstanding bravery following last year's 17-hour Rawstenstall armed siege.

PCs David Lomas, who was shot with more than 60 pellets by gunman Steven Hensby, Matthew Walton, Philip Bayliss, Peter Corser, Kevin Jones, Lukmaan Mulla, Peter Sculpher and Sgts Wendy Jacobs and Paul Leigh are to receive the honour.

Hensby fired at PC Lomas who had called at his home in Hardman Avenue to investigate reports of harassment.

PC Mulla scrambled over a hedge to reach PC Lomas, while Sgt Leigh stayed with him until the armed police arrived.

While they protected PC Lomas, Hensby threw petrol bombs at them.

The actions prompted a 17-hour seige.

That ended the following morning when officers stormed the house and found Hensby dead. He had shot himself in the head. PC Lomas was hit in the shoulder and was initially feared to be seriously ill.

However he made a full recovery and returned to work late last year.

A police spokesman said the other officers put forward for the commendation had showed "great bravery" to treat PC Lomas and help bring the situation to a conclusion.

The spokesman added: "On attending the address, the officers were presented with a level of violence that could not have been anticipated."

They will be presented with their awards by Gulf War hero John Nichol, a former RAF Tornado pilot who was shot down, captured and tortured.

The ceremony takes place at Barton Grange hotel, near Preston, on June 6.

Other brave officers from Pennine Division, covering Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, are to be honoured.

PCs Tim Hitchen and Andrew Eddleston will also receive the Chief Constable's commendation for outstanding bravery.

They found a man lying in a Colne street, bleeding heavily from a stab wound.

The spokesman said: "A suspect was seen entering a property carrying a knife and PC Hitchen tended to the bleeding man while his colleague entered the property to arrest the suspect.

"Groups of youths were gathered in the street brandishing baseball bats and knives, but, despite knowing they were heavily outnumbered, PC Hitchen and his colleague acted with disregard for their own safety with tremendous courage and tenacity."

Sgt Jonathon Lobb, PCs Joanne Simpson and David Trafford from the Pennine Division's Road Policing Unit will also receive the award.

The spokesman added: "They did their utmost to rescue a man trapped inside a burning vehicle. Numerous attempts were made to open the doors while the fire was intensifying, putting themselves at great risk, showing great bravery."

PC Maggie Hargreaves, based at Rossendale, will be given a commendation for disarming a man who was wielding a hammer.