A POLICEMAN has won a major police bravery award for wading through rising flood waters to rescue a woman stranded from her car on a country road between Doynton and Dyrham.

Sgt Luke Gribble rescued the woman after walking through 100ft of fast-flowing flood water on the evening of December 23, 2013.

He won the South West region Police Bravery Award at a ceremony in central London attended by the home secretary, police minister Mike Penning and Met Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, among other dignitaries.

He was presented with the award by Steve White, chair, Police Federation of England and Wales.

Luke had been on routine patrol with a colleague when a report came in of a car trapped in rising flood water, on an isolated country lane.

The officers made way to the area and saw that the car was trapped some distance away in fast-flowing water from the nearby river that had burst its banks following a torrential downpour.

The driver had managed to escape with his 17-month-old baby but his wife was still trapped and the water was rising rapidly.

Unable to get the police car close and fearing the trapped car was about to submerge, Luke waded through the dangerous waters to rescue the woman.

His bravery citation said he acted quickly on instinct, fearing for the woman’s life. Without hesitation he waded through dangerous waters with no thought for his own safety.

Earlier in the day, Luke joined 65 of his colleagues from 31 forces round the country for a reception at 10 Downing Street with prime minister David Cameron as a mark of recognition for his heroic acts.

Luke said: “I feel a bit unworthy. This is amazing. I’m very proud to be here and represent people who are not here as there are people out there doing amazing things and probably don’t get the recognition.”