Hartlepool investigator David Hill was pursuing a suspected crook he had tracked down to York when the man dived into the muddy waters of the River Ouse in a bid to escape.

But David leapt into action when the suspect got into difficulty and shouted out: "Help, I can't swim."

David, 52, a former police officer, has been awarded a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Parchment for his heroic efforts.

The married dad-of-two from the Clavering area of town said: "There was no-one around or ropes, sticks or anything so I had to go in.

"My training just kicked in and I went for it.

"It was only afterwards that I realised how dangerous it was. The mud was like quicksand and he had already gone under by the time I got to him and dragged him out.

"It looks like he jumped in to get away, but forgot he couldn't swim."

David was working on behalf of North Yorkshire Police at the time after becoming a private investigator following 31 years service with Cleveland Police.

The man he was chasing was in his 60s and wanted in connection with a burglary.

Police in Yorkshire called on David to help them after an 18-month search failed to track down their suspect.

The Royal Humane Society's secretary Dick Wilkinson said: "This is a dangerous stretch of water, with a bed like quicksand, yet Mr Hill risked his own life to apprehend this man. He thoroughly deserves this award."

The rescue was sparked in September last year after David spotted the man walking in a nearby street.

He rang for police help but the wanted man ran off on foot across a busy main road and then towards the river at Clifton Bridge.

David kept his man in sight before losing him at the waters edge. He was about to run in the wrong direction when he heard a loud splash.

David said: "If I hadn't heard the splash I would have gone a different way.

"He was flailing around and said 'help, I can't swim' and kept disappearing under the water."

He used an overhanging tree to get nearer to the man before swimming out and dragging him to the river bank, where the man was arrested by police.

No date has yet been fixed for the presentation of the award, made on the recommendation of North Yorkshire Police.

The man was later given a nine-month jail term, suspended for a year, and given a community supervision order.