A MAIDSTONE police officer will be competing for the title of Britain's bravest policeman at at an awards night in London next week.

PC Mick Williams-Smith, who works as a patrol officer in Maidstone, has been nominated in the annual Police Bravery Awards, staged to recognise the unsung heroes of the service.

The off-duty officer braved flames and choking smoke trying to rescue 80-year-old Joseph Baggott from his home in Tichfield Close, Senacre, Maidstone, two years ago.

The ceremony takes place at the Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday in the presence of Home Secretary David Blunkett, followed by a Downing Street reception where he will be among the 50 award nominees greeted by the Prime Minister Tony Blair.

All 43 forces were invited to select their top candidates nominated by their fellow officers for acting above and beyond the call of duty.

PC Williams-Smith was in bed asleep when his wife woke him at 5am on Friday, June 1, 2001.

She told him she could see a fire at the home of an elderly neighbour, who was shouting for help from an upstairs window.

He threw on some shorts, rang the fire brigade and rushed to his neighbour's home in a sheltered accommodation complex. On entering the building, with stairs leading straight up to the flat, the 40-year-old officer was confronted with dense, choking smoke.

He could hear his neighbour and tried to reach him but was beaten back by the intense heat and acrid smoke.

Three further attempts were made but the burning furniture was releasing black, toxic smoke. As he retreated for the last time, a window exploded in the flat. When the fire brigade arrived, despite suffering the effects of heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation, he managed to brief them about the situation.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus then rescued the 80-year old man, who died in hospital five days later. At the inquest, the PC Williams-Smith was given a commendation for "exceptional bravery". He was later given a Chief Constable's Commendation for heroism. The exact cause of the fire was never established.

Praising him for his bravery, Ian Pointon, chairman of Kent Police Federation said: "PC Williams-Smith put the safety of others above that of his own. He deserves to be recognised for that courage."