FOUR police officers who saved two women in Walkden from being savaged by two dogs have been rewarded for their bravery.

The officers, who used CS gas to prise the animals away from one of the women, have received the awards from the Royal Humane Society.

Denise Briggs, aged 42, was in the garden of her home in Athens Drive, Walkden, when the doberman-rottweiler cross and a mongrel pounced on her and her sister Sharon Livingstone.

The attack was so vicious that when the police officers approached they could hear the sound of Denise's bones breaking as the doberman-cross bit into her leg.

Denise suffered broken bones, gashes to her body and face, and muscle and nerve damage to her arms and legs. Sharon, aged 35, received puncture wounds to her chin and bites to her left arm.

The four officers honoured were PCs Barry Wilson, aged 37, Julian Tustin, aged 36, Barry Greyo, aged 33, and Samantha Trowbridge, aged 20. In addition to the CS gas spray, the officers fought the dogs back with their batons.

They eventually managed to lock both animals in a back yard. The dogs were later shot by an RSPCA inspector.