A police officer threw himself into a fast-flowing river to rescue a drowning woman.

PC Dave Gingell leapt into the River Arun in Littlehampton, as the woman lost consciousness and was swept towards the sea.

He pulled her to the bank, where passers-by helped haul her body from the water.

Colleagues in Sussex Police have now put his name forward for a force bravery award.

PC Gingell and PC Sarah Powell were called to South Terrace following reports that a woman was running in and out of traffic.

They went to the area and soon found sitting at the bottom of a set of steps to the river with her feet in the water.

PC Gingell sat next to her at the water's edge and tried to talk to her.

He said: "We'd been dealing with her earlier in the day and I received a report that she was down by the seafront.

"We found her sitting on a ledge. Sarah sat a few steps up trying to talk to her while I fetched a life-ring. Then I went to sit beside her and managed to persuade her to come up the steps with me.

"As she got to her feet I held her arm to support her but she broke free and jumped.

"After a few seconds she turned round and looked like she was trying to get back in but she wasn't getting anywhere because of the current.

"I took my boots, trousers and utility belt off and went in after her.

"It was freezing cold. As I jumped in, PC Power threw the life-ring in. We half swam and were half pulled back to the steps."

A police spokesman said: "Initially the woman appeared unresponsive and the officers could not find a pulse. However, she recovered quickly and was taken by ambulance to Worthing Hospital for tests and later released."

He added: "PC Gingell's name has now been put forward for an award for his brave actions in this difficult situation."