Former Ledbury Police Sergeant Bob Wilson has received a divisional Comm-endation for his commitment and dedication to the Long-town Mountain Rescue Team.

Now promoted to inspector following a move to Hereford 18 months ago, he said he was pleased to receive the recognition from divisional Chief Superintendent Guy Rutter.

Inspector Wilson, who is battling cancer and has been off work since July, said his most memorable incident in seven years with the Mountain Rescue Team came on January 2, 2000, when a schoolteacher had a heart attack on the peak of Pen Allt Mawr, near Abergavenny.

He said: "It was very cold and there was a strong wind. We had to climb all the way to the top with rescue equipment and carry him about half way down, below the cloud base."

Once there, a helicopter was able to get in to the mountainside and take the casualty off to hospital.

Inspector Wilson said: "The chap would have died otherwise, I'm sure."

Described by the force as one of its "best-known and best-loved officers", Inspector Wilson has been on 70 call- outs with the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team, including missing persons operations in the Ledbury and Malvern areas.