A policeman who grew up in Steeton has been honoured for his part in policing last year’s riots in London.

PC Marc Gledhill received an assistant commissioners’ commendation for leadership, bravery, professionalism and dedication to duty.

He spent five days on the “frontline” during riots in the capital and at one time was trapped with fellow officers in an alleyway.

PC Gledhill, 31, has served with the Metropolitan Police for nine years and currently works in the Camden area.

His parents Janet and David, who live in Steeton, attended the awards ceremony in London.

Mrs Gledhill said her son, who attended South Craven School in Cross Hills, had always wanted to be a police officer.

After leaving school he worked at greetings card company Hallmark before securing a place at the Hendon police training college.

Mrs Gledhill said her son enjoyed his role as a police constable.

She said: “He loves being hands-on. He doesn't want to be stuck behind a desk.”

She added that during the awards ceremony a film was screened showing footage from the riots and the audience was told some rioters had intended to kill police officers.

She said: “Marc didn’t get home for five days. They grabbed sleep where they could, then were straight back out.

“Marc and three others were trapped in a dead-end street in Camden with fires raging all around and the public stuck in flats above, fighting off the rioters for five hours to protect the people. He's a really caring young man.”

Marc is captain of the Met police’s hockey team and lives in Wimbledon.