By Nick Griffiths Crime Reporter

Last updated at 10:25, Saturday, 04 April 2009

Brave policemen who overpowered a potential arsonist armed with a flame-throwing aerosol are among those awarded for their courage in Cumbria.

The officers – based in Wigton, Maryport and Workington – arrested the man after he became aggressive while threatening to torch a flat he had barricaded himself into.

Sergeant Ian Jackson and constables James Thistlethwaite, Joshua Morgan and Mark Ormerod sprang into action to stop the man at Harrington, on the edge of Workington.

They were among a host of officers honoured for their bravery by Cumbria’s top policeman, Chief Constable Craig Mackey.

Some were commended at a ceremony this week while others have been awarded in their absence.

The four officers tackling the firebug were commended for their actions on Christmas Eve 2007.

As well as barricading himself in, the man began pouring alcohol onto the floor to make any flames worse. He refused to come out of the flat and was seen pouring more liquid onto a mattress.

The officers smashed their way in but the man threw furniture down the stairs and used a lit aerosol can to direct a jet of flame towards them before being overpowered.

Others from west Cumbria to be commended included PC Martin Renney, from Workington, for an investigation into a fatal smash at Great Clifton in January 2007.

In north Cumbria, DC Andrew Donnelly and Inspector Richard Quinn were among officers honoured. They received their awards for tackling a knifeman in Carlisle.

The ceremony was held at the force’s Carleton Hall headquarters, near Penrith.

First published at 09:10, Saturday, 04 April 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk