Praise for ice lake rescue heroes

Paul Myers and Steve Binns attended a ceremony in London

Two County Durham firefighters were hailed heroes by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, for their efforts in rescuing a woman from a frozen lake.

Paul Myers and Steve Binns risked their lives freeing the woman, who had fallen through ice at Bishop Middleham trying to rescue her dog in March 2006.

They attended a special ceremony at Downing Street, where members of the emergency services were honoured.

Mr Brown said he was "immensely impressed" by the pair's bravery.

The pair were based at Sedgefield Fire Station and work for the County Durham and Darlington brigade.

When they arrived at the scene on 4 March last year, the woman had been in the water for some time and attempts by an ambulance crew and members of the public to free her had failed.

The firefighters waded 70m (about 80yd) and had to smash through thick ice to reach the woman.

Mr Myers submerged himself completely until his feet touched the bottom and pulled on a rescue line attached to his colleague, dragging him and the unconscious woman back through the water.