Four Kent Police Constables who helped prevent a man from setting himself on fire in a Gravesend car park have received awards.

PCs John Clarke, Steve Brown, Claire Pye and Sarah Axell were called to the Asda car park in Thames Way, Gravesend on April 2, where a man had doused himself in fuel at the self-service filling station.

Kent Police Chief Inspector Simon Alland, District Commander for Gravesham, said: “The man was holding a lighter in his hand and was trying to spark a flame from it when PC Clarke took the brave decision to physically restrain the man and try to remove the lighter from him.

“His three colleagues assisted and, thanks to their combined efforts, the man was prevented from causing himself significant if not fatal injuries.”

The quartet picked up Chief Constable’s Commendations at the Kent Police training school on October 14.

PC Clarke said: "This incident was beyond the normal routine and one I still think about it quite a lot.

"The guy was covered in fuel and flicking the lighter repeatedly and I just thought ‘I can’t watch this man go up in flames and not try and do anything’.

"So I ran towards him and my colleagues followed suit.

“We got the lighter off him but were soaked in fuel and for a long time afterwards I just kept thinking of how badly it could have gone.

“Getting the award means a lot to me and I was very proud to be able to take my family to the ceremony.”

In all, 23 police officers and staff plus seven members of the public received Chief Constable’s Certificates of Merit or Commendations.

A further 11 Kent Police officers and civilian staff received long-service awards.

Four Kent Police Constables who helped a man in a life-threatening situation in a supermarket car park were among those honoured at a commendation awards ceremony.