BRAVE policeman Brian Orr risked his life to save the life of two drivers trapped in their burning vehicles.

And now his bravery has earned him a prestigious award.

PC Orr, who lives in Blackburn, received the Giancarlo Tofi award at West Yorkshire police operations support headquarters in Wakefield yesterday.

PC Orr, who is currently acting sergeant on the Bolton Division of Greater Manchester Police, was put up for the award by West Yorkshire police chiefs after he was called to attend a three-vehicle smash on the Yorkshire side of the M62, in April last year.

He was the first officer on the scene of the crash, which involved two lorries and a car. A lorry parked on the hard shoulder by Andrew Figliuzzi, from Scunthorpe, had been hit by a second wagon which set on fire, igniting both vehicles.

A third vehicle then smashed into the second lorry and trapped both drivers.

PC Orr attempted to release the trapped drivers and was helped by passer-by Simon Large, from Derbyshire, passing driver Michael Ward, from Sheffield, and Mr Figliuzzi, who was himself injured.

They forced apart the crushed third vehicle to release the trapped driver before freeing the driver in the second wagon.

Chief Superintendent Gavin Edwards, head of West Yorkshire police's operation support division, said: "There is absolutely no doubt PC Orr put his own life at risk to save others.

"The first and second vehicles were ablaze and there was every possibility that if the wind had changed direction the third vehicle could have caught fire as well.

"The load of one of the wagons contained cans of food which were exploding in the heat and there was also the possibility of fuel tanks blowing up at any time."

Mr Large and Mr Figliuzzi will also receive the award, along with Mr Ward, who will not be present at the ceremony.

The four men have already received the Royal Humane Society Bronze Award for their actions in the incident.

The award commemorates the courageous actions of Giancarlo Tofi, who was killed in 1972 while trying to assist in a road accident in his village in Italy.