An officer who comforted a four-year-old crash victim as she lay in the road has been commended in this year's police awards.

In a special ceremony at Leeds Castle today PCSO Bodiam will join officers from throughout mid Kent - honoured for their bravery and dedication to duty.

PCSO Sarah Bodiam, was on patrol in Kemsley, Sittingbourne, on March 29 this year when she heard of the crash.

As the first officer on the scene, PCSO Bodiam saw the girl was still lying in the middle of the road while traffic drove past her.

After closing the road in both directions and making the scene safe the officer turned her attention to the girl, who had a head injury and neck pain.

PCSO Bodiam reassured both the girl and her mother, even staying in touch in following days, and updating others involved.

She is commended "for the outstanding professionalism and compassion she showed throughout her dealings with this incident.

give up their Saturday nights to help keep Maidstone town centre safe at night; two PCs from Swale who helped a man who'd tried to commit suicide; officers who were chased by an drunken armed man in Sheerness and the Swale officers who rescued a family trapped in mud as the tide swept around them.Others commended include volunteers from the Urban Blue Bus project , who

He said before the event: "The Area Commander's Awards are designed to recognise more than just those who perform well, but those individuals whose actions go way beyond the call of duty.

The Area Commander's Awards honour those who make a considerable contribution to policing in Mid Kent, and this year awards are being presented by Chief Superintendent Matthew Nix.

"All the recipients are examples of Mid Kent's finest policing and they should rightly be proud of their achievement in gaining this award."