TWO Newport men were given an award by Gwent's Chief Constable Mike Tonge for their part in attem-pting a rescue from a blazing house.

Anthony Collins, 44, and his son-in-law Ben Glycos, 20, burst into a neighbour's burning house in Castle Park Close, Gaer, Newport, not realising an armed man was barricaded inside.

They were given the Good Citizen award by Mr Tonge at a ceremony at County Hall, Cwmbran.

In May last year we reported how the neighbours were fearful for the safety of an elderly woman who lived there.

But, unknown to them, a man had barricaded himself into the living-room armed with a sledgehammer and crowbar, after setting the front bedroom alight.

Mr Collins, who lives in Castle Park Close, said: "When we saw the house was on fire, Ben and I broke the door down and ran upstairs to try to find the woman."

The elderly woman was away, it emerged later, and unknown to the would-be rescuers, the woman's son Phillip Evans, 30, of no fixed address, was armed and inside. Police eventually apprehended Evans - who during a 'psychotic episode' thought the Mafia were after him and decided to try to kill himself.

Evans pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered at Newport crown court in October of last year. He was jailed for 14 months.

A team of Gwent police officers responsible for bringing a prolific distraction burglar to justice were also honoured.

The seven detectives and one constable who worked on Operation Scupper in early 2003 were awarded 'team of the year' at the awards.

The operation aimed to combat the significant number of distraction burglaries taking place in Gwent and their work led to the conviction of 29-year-old Alex Crumlish, of Bonnington Walk, Lockleaze, Bristol.

After being found guilty of two attempted burglaries and 12 charges of burglary, Crumlish was sentenced to eight years imprisonment at Newport crown court in July 2004.

The majority of his victims were in their 80s and 90s and one died while dialling 999.

PRAISE FOR DETECTIVE

DETECTIVE Sergeant Tom Andrews was presented with the Royal Humane Society award.

He helped to resuscitate a man who had collapsed in the community centre at Ross-on-Wye Grammar School in March 2004.

DS Andrews was off duty at the time when he went to the aid of the man, who had stopped breathing and had no pulse.

The man has since gone on to to make a full recovery.

In a new Employee of the Year award, Gwent police pharmacy officer Robert Poole was recognised for his commitment in "fighting the war against the misuse of drugs".