TWO police officers who stopped a woman throwing herself off Westhoughton Town Hall are to be honoured for their bravery by the Chief Constable. PC Peter Thomasson and Sgt Fred Edge teamed up to grab the distressed woman and save her from plunging from the roof. PC Thomasson went up to a skylight window and kept the woman talking. He feared she was ready to jump so he immediately climbed out of the window and grabbed her.

Sgt Edge then joined him and between them they dragged the struggling woman back into the building.

Following the drama on June 9 last year the woman was detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act.

PC Thomasson, 40, will receive the Chief Constable's commendation at a presentation ceremony at Wigan Town Hall next Tuesday. Sgt Edge, 42, will be awarded the Citation of Merit.

Other brave local officers will also get awards from Greater Manchester Chief Constable David Wilmot.

Leigh policeman PC Peter Tomlinson will be commended for his bravery in tackling a robber.

PC Tomlinson, aged 38, was off-duty when he spotted a robbery in a Leigh off-licence. He wrestled the offender to the ground.

Despite a second thug slashing PC Tomlinson's hand with a knife and stamping on him the brave officer held onto the robber.

The second man gave up and ran off and police arrived to arrest the first man.

Following the incident in September 1996 the man was later jailed for four and a half years at Bolton Crown Court.

The Chief Constable is also commending Sgt Ian Melling who rescued a woman from Clifton Dam.

Sgt Melling pulled the woman to safety and gave her mouth to mouth resuscitation until an ambulance arrived.

The woman was treated for hypothermia following the incident on April 1 last year.

An inquiry counter assistant at Leigh police station will be commended for arresting a suspect late at night.

Michael Broom rushed out to grab the youth who had smashed a shop window. He held the thug until officers arrived.

The youth was sentenced to 120 hours community service and ordered to pay £500 damages and compensation.

Long service and good conduct medals will be awarded to Sgt Raymond Riley from Bolton who works for Wigan traffic unit and Leigh custody clerk PC Robert Halliwell.

Special constabulary commandant James Lightfoot from Tyldesley will receive the long service bar.

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