PC Sarah Hughes was commended for putting her own life at serious risk whilst rescuing a semi-conscious man from the River Ogwen in June 2007.

Officers received reports of a man falling 25 feet into the river, and, upon arriving at the scene, PC Hughes found the man's legs were trapped by a branch.

As he regained consciousness he became difficult to manage, and having been instructed to lean towards the officer, the man did the opposite and fell backwards into the water where he was suspended with his head and body submerged.

PC Hughes jumped into the fast flowing water to chest height and then supported the man's head whilst freeing him.

The Royal Humane Society has also awarded PC Eurwyn Thomas, PC Gordon Topps and PC Vaughan Roberts for rescuing a man on the Britannia Bridge in July 2007.

A man who had apparently threatened suicide had been reported missing and his vehicle was discovered on the A5 between the Menai and Britannia Bridges.

One of the officers was sent to Britannia Bridge where he saw a man matching the description of the missing person, located on the outside of the barrier wall, 180 feet above the exposed rocks.

PC Thomas called for further assistance and the two other officers arrived, and the trio grabbed the man who struggled and asked them to let him go.

They were later assisted by other officers and managed to pull the man back over the barrier and bring him to safety.

PC Eurwyn Thomas, who is based at Caernarfon police station, PC Gordon Topps from the force's OSD Dog Section in Llandegai and PC Vaughan Roberts of Bangor, have all been awarded the Parchment Award.

Divisional Commander for the Western Division, Chief Supt Geraint Anwyl said: "I am extremely proud to be associated with these officers who have justifiably been awarded by the Royal Humane Society for their selfless actions in the face of immediate and personal danger to themselves to save the lives of two people."