A Kent firefighter has been commended for his bravery after chasing two armed robbers and helping police arrest them.

Aston Gallivan came to the rescue of Elizabeth West in June last year after he saw two men, who had escaped from an open prison, threatening her with a 12 inch knife.

Mrs West had left her home in Sevenoaks in the morning and was walking towards the train station when she saw Shaine Tester and Sean Horsley coming towards her.

The convicts pointed a blade towards the terrified mother and demanded her bag. They took her purse which contained £150 she was planning to give to her student daughter in London for passing her exams.

Having witnessed the dramatic robbery Mr Gallivan followed the men in his car to the Sevenoaks railway station where they boarded a train to Tonbridge.

He gave a running commentary to police the entire time he was following them.

His actions led to the pair being stopped at Tonbridge railway station where Tester pulled out a home-made knife and pointed it at one officer’s head.

Horsley was found to be carrying a bag containing a sawn-off shotgun which he is said to have confronted another officer with.

The pair, who had fled from Blantyre House in Goudhurst, were eventually arrested and are now both behind bars.

A number of officers from the Tonbridge local district policing team and CID were also recognised for their bravery and professionalism on the same incident.

West Division commander, chief superintendent Steve Corbishley, said: "Kent Police officers are called to difficult and potentially dangerous situations every day, and risk their own safety by putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public.

"It is right they get the recognition they deserve, and I am very proud of everything they do. I would also like to congratulate those members of the public who showed tremendous courage in difficult situations, and whose awards are also well-deserved."