The efforts of a police officer have been praised after coming to the aid of a "distressed" woman sitting on a bridge over a busy motorway.

The emergency service was called shortly after 10.20am yesterday after the woman was reported to have been sitting on the wrong side of the crossing over the M20 near Ashford.

According to an eye witness, an officer risked his own life by sitting next to her in a bid to rescue her.

She was brought to safety and has been placed in the care of medical health professionals.

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