THREE police officers whose quick-thinking helped saved a colleague who collapsed while on patrol in Worcester have been awarded top national life-saving honours.

PC Brian Berry and PC Jon Rice, who are based in Bromsgrove, have been awarded Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Michael Exon from Warndon Safer Neighbour Team has been awarded a Certificate of Commendation.

Whilst on a routine patrol through Warndon last May, 48-year-old PCSO David Anderson collapsed and stopped breathing.

Fellow PCSO Michael Exon put Mr Anderson - who was still breathing - in the recovery position and called for help.

PCs Brian Berry and Jon Rice - who were dealing with an incident nearby - rushed to their colleague’s aid only to find that he had now stopped breathing.

They began giving him cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) whilst paramedics made their way.

They continued giving PCSO Anderson CPR for half an hour as initial attempts to revive him with oxygen and a defibrillator failed.

In addition to the awards, the three officers have also won the personal praise of Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.

He said: “Time and perseverance are of the essence in situations such as this.

“The sooner CPR can be started the greater the chances of it being successful.

“It ensures that when a person is handed over to the medical team they are have the best possible.

“It’s a very strenuous procedure but these two officers persevered and as a result the life of their colleague was saved.

“All three officers richly deserve the awards they are to receive for their part in saving the life of PCSO Anderson.”

Following treatment at hospital, PCSO Anderson made a full recovery.

Medical staff later said that the CPR given by PCs Berry and Rice played a major role in saving his life.

A date for an official presentation of the award to the three officers, which was recommended by West Mercia Police, is yet to be announced.

The Royal Humane Society was founded in 1774 to promote techniques of resuscitation.

The society gives out awards for acts of bravery in the saving of human life and for effecting successful resuscitations.