Police Federation Welsh affairs lead Nicky Ryan has congratulated Gwent officers Mark Burbidge and Owain Smallwood on their success at the national Police Bravery Awards.

PCs Burbidge and Smallwood were presented with the regional award for Wales after risking their lives trying to stop a rampaging water buffalo from attacking its owners.

A father and son were killed in the incident on a Monmouthshire farm in May 2020 but the Gwent PCs’ actions in confronting the beast have been credited with saving the lives of the mother and daughter and their courage was recognised at last Thursday's awards ceremony in London.

Nicky said: “Congratulations are due to these two extremely brave officers whose actions saved the lives of two women in a truly horrific incident.

“Their courage was rightly honoured at the Police Bravery Awards and they can be proud of their achievements. But I am also particularly proud of them since they come from my own force.

“Wales was also represented at the Police Bravery Awards by South Wales PCs Brian Cooper and Ryan Morgan who stopped a man from killing himself; by Dyfed Powys PC Mark Thomas who was threatened with a knife after finding a high-risk missing teenager and by North Wales PC Josh Stocker who crawled into a burning bungalow on his hands and knees to try to save an elderly woman.

“Our members show bravery, selflessness and professionalism in the face of terrifying situations every day and the actions of these officers deserve to be recognised in this way.”

The Police Bravery Awards honour officers from across England and Wales who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.

Four West Yorkshire Police officers who detained two attackers who murdered a man with a samurai sword were named overall winners at the awards ceremony.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the “dedication and conscientiousness” of all the nominees and paid tribute to their bravery.