A brave member of the public from Birmingham has been honoured after racing to the aid of a police officer trying to break up a mob brawling on the streets with knives and bats.

Courageous Robert Dell leapt into action after seeing the motorcycle officer swamped by the battling factions, one wielding a ceremonial sword on West Bromwich High Street.

The 39-year-old, recognised for bravery by West Midlands Police earlier this year, has now been honoured by the country’s top police chiefs.

Mr Dell was one 67 people to be honoured at the National Police Public Bravery Awards, part of Association of Chief Police Officers conference, in Manchester last night.

The married dad was one of 17 named Silver medal winner.

He said: “I would do it again, you can’t stand by and watch a police officer get beaten up.

“It’s nice to be recognised but I didn’t realise it has had such an impact. I was just doing what any normal citizen would do.”

The former bodybuilder, from Sutton Coldfield, who runs wrought iron railings maker RJ Engineering, was driving through West Bromwich in March last year when he saw the trouble unfold.

Earlier this year he told our sister paper the Birmingham Mail: “I saw a group of lads with baseball bats, knives and a ceremonial sword.

“A policeman came the other way on his motorbike. He grabbed the guy with the sword but as he tried to restrain him it all went off. I managed to get to him and thumped someone to get them off him and stood guard over him until other officers arrived.”