THEY are the pride of Hampshire.

Scores of police officers and members of the public have been awarded for their service.

There were tears and laughs as courageous people were given awards at the Chief Constable Award Ceremony.

The event was a chance for Hampshire Chief Constable Andy Marsh to reward those who have gone above and beyond their duty to make their community safe, as well as celebrate devoted police officers.

Family, friends and colleagues packed the lecture hall at the special training facility in Netley as the chief constable was joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson, Judge Cutler and the chairman of the Royal Humane Society, John Grandy to present the award.

The first awards were given to five police officers for 20 years of service and included PC Gwen Morris, DS Elizabeth brunt, Inspector Mike Haines, PC John Nash and Inspector Rachel Upfold.

The next awards were given by Judge Cutler as part of the Crown Court certificate of commendation to PC Vikki Sharpe, PSI Jenna Eldridge and DS Richard Sellwood.

Royal Humane Society Awards were given to police officers and members of the public who had helped to save a person's life.

Among the award winners was Penny Lilley from Cadnam who saved Andy Puntis last year after spotting him in her rear view car mirror fall off his bike and collapse from a heart attack.

Penny ran to give him CPR and after eight minutes he gained consciousness and Andy joined his saviour as she collected her award.

Other winners included PC James Mullen, PC John Reditt, Peter Levesque, Joanna Katerinas, PC Russ Collier, PC Luke Peters, Claire Bennett, Sophie Lane, PC Gary Tomlinson, PC Alex Boxall, PC Carla Pearce and Sebastien Krawczyk.

Chief constable Marsh also gave congratulatory awards to Claire Birch and 13-year-old friends Declan Carr-McElhatton, James Green and Michael Oxley, who all survived a knife attack in Havant in June and were rescued by members of the public Dawn Searles, Jacqui Chard, Tonie King, Glen Edwards, Stephen Evans, Robert Rowe, Kelly Drew and Craig Marlow, who also received awards.

Chief constable Marsh said: "Policing is a vocation, not to make money but to make a difference and to change the world for the better. This job is about real people but we have members of the community being recognised for their own extreme bravery as well. All these people have shown such courage, bravery and integrity and this is my chance to thank them all."