A 999 call handler who stopped a suicide and a quick thinking passenger who pulled a woman from a burning car on the M4 were among the award winners at the Gwent Police Chief Constable's Commendations and Long Service Awards Ceremony.

Danielle Thomas, 30, from Blaina, kept a suicidal man on the phone for half an hour in April this year, getting information that led to officers finding him on a remote mountain and ultimately saving his life.

Andrew Leach, 50, of Little Sutton near Chester, was a passenger on the M4 near Newport in July this year when a car burst into flames and pulled over to the hard shoulder. Quick thinking Andrew raced to the car and dragged the driver from it before emergency services arrived.

Both received the Chief Constable's Commendation award, alongside serving Gwent Police officers honoured for their bravery and dedication at the awards ceremony held at Bryn Meadow Golf Club, Ystrad Mynach, yesterday.

More stories from the awards will be printed in a feature next week.