Sgt Toby Fawcett-Greaves, Pc Simon Duddles and Pc Mark Lindley, based at Chesterfield's Beetwell Street station, pulled a woman out of the fast-flowing River Rother.

A police spokesman said: "The officers spotted the woman being pushed downstream by the current after they responded to an emergency call and she was clawing at the river bank.

"Sgt Fawcett-Greaves and Pc Lindley entered the river and pushed the woman through the water towards Pc Duddles who pulled her through undergrowth to safety."

The officers were presented with Royal Humane Society commendation certificates at Derbyshire Constabulary's latest awards ceremony after they rescued the woman, last year.

Pc Craig Webley, who works in Alfreton, also received a Chief Constable's Commendation certificate together with a Belper-based colleague after they tackled a knife-wielding offender, in May, last year.

The Alfreton officer and colleague Sgt Edward Carlin were confronted by the man while they made enquiries at a property in Ilkeston and were forced to use CS spray to ovepower the offender and grab the weapon.

Pc Wayne Mayo, who is based at Ripley, also received a Chief Constable's Commendation after he helped capture an escaped prisoner.

The prisoner assaulted an officer and fled from a police car, but off-duty Pc Mayo acted on a tip-off and helped officers track down the offender to Nottinghamshire in July, last year.

Det Con Sarah North, based at Ripley, was honoured with a Chief Constable's Commendation certificate for her involvement in tracking down burglars, recovering nine stolen high-powered vehicles and helping to put seven offenders behind bars.

She was part of a team including countywide support officer Pc Richard Green, who received the same honour, after they took part in the crackdown following a spate of burglaries in Amber Valley.