TWO police community support officers and a police constable from Chippenham were awarded for their work following a stabbing in the town centre last summer.

PCSOs Gemma Bloomfield, 22, and Georgina Matthews, 23, and Pc Clare Heaven, 38, received their awards at a ceremony in Warminster on January 22.

The two PCSOs were on patrol in the town centre on August 4 when they received a report that a boy had been stabbed.

Insp Gavin Williams said: "When they arrived at the scene they were confronted by a large crowd of youths some of which were hysterical and had consumed a large amount of alcohol."

The two gave the boy first aid, kept the crown under control, identified witnesses, called for assistance and managed to get the name of a suspect.

Pc Heaven then went to the home of the suspect and arrested him and he has since appeared in court charged with GBH.

Insp Williams praised their professionalism, quick thinking and team work and said their first aid could well have saved the boy's life.

Miss Bloomfield, who has been a PCSO for two years said: "It's not something you expect to see on a daily basis in this job but it was easier that we were both together.

"Sometimes it can be challenging as a PCSO because you're dealing with the public and often you don't get a lot of thanks."

Miss Matthews, who has been a PCSO for a year, said: "There was a large group of 20-30 youths with girls screaming and boys wanting to fight. It was very hard to get them to stay back and stay calm.

"It all happened within six months of me being in the job so I'm just honoured to be able to have saved somebody's life in this way."

Pc Heaven said: "I'm very chuffed to receive an award after 15 and a half years of policing but there are a lot of far more deserving cases out there."

Acting Assistant Chief Constable Paul Howlett said: "I often hear people say we only have PCSOs so you can save money. It's policing on the cheap'.

"We have heard about the real contribution these people make and if anybody wants proof that it is not policing on the cheap we have heard the evidence tonight."

Also awarded were special constables from Warminster and Westbury, licensing officer Jacqui Gallimore, and acting chief inspector, Glynn Hookings, for setting up the ROC Awards for licensed premises, and Mark Burchell, criminal justice investigator, for his work on a project to devise a new formula to deploy officers across the division.