AN OFF-DUTY police officer who rescued a mother and son from a burning York house has been honoured with a national award for her courage and quick-thinking.

PC Sarah Lacy was investigating why her dog had suddenly run into the garden of her Strensall home and started barking when she heard an alarm sounding and smelled smoke last July.

Seeing smoke billowing from a nearby house, she helped rescue a choking man hanging out of a bedroom window before, despite suffering from asthma, going back into the building with him to take his mother to safety.

York-based PC Lacy last night received the North East regional award for her actions at the Police Bravery Awards in London, organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales and The Sun newspaper, following a Downing Street reception where she and other nominees met David Cameron.