A PCSO who helped save a woman who was choking on her sandwich in a car has received an award for her heroic actions.

Police community support officer Sophie Lusher was on patrol in the town when she saw someone frantically waving she sat in her parked car.

Lusher stopped her patrol car in Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, and saw the woman was choking on food.

She performed a prolonged series of abdominal thrusts and back slaps to clear the woman’s airway and restore her breathing before taking her to Pembry Hospital to be checked over.

Doctors there said the officer’s prompt action had undoubtedly saved the victim’s life.

This week, the PCSO received an award from the Royal Humane Society, which was presented to her by the Chief Constable of Kent, Tim Smith, and Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.

Mr Smith said: “Kent Police officers and staff share a passion for public service and carry out acts of heroism on a daily basis. PCSO Sophie Lusher is a credit to her profession.”

The officer said: “It is really lovely to win an award, but the main achievement for me is that the lady I helped is OK.

“She came into the police station the next day to bring me some flowers, and later I went to her house and we had coffee together.

“I have been in the job for nearly 17 years and received lots of first aid training, so I knew what I had to do and just got on with it.”