Ipswich: Two Ipswich-based policemen were hailed as heroes today after saving a woman’s life in a bridge drama near the town’s station.

The distressed woman, believed to be in her 30s, was threatening to jump off the bridge at Princes Street when the officers, based at Ipswich’s central police headquarters, arrived at the scene.

As other officers cordoned off the busy early evening street and closed the bridge to traffic at around 5.30pm, the pair – a constable and a sergeant – calmly talked to the woman, who was sitting on the river side of the bridge with her legs dangling in the air.

First on the scene was PC Matt Breeze, 31, a ten-year veteran with the Suffolk force. He had been patrolling near Suffolk New College when members of the public raised the alarm.

“When I arrived the woman had her legs over the parapet and she was saying she would jump.

“Members of the public withdrew, then my sergeant (Sgt Nick Kitchen) arrived and we talked to her for what seemed like 30 minutes.

“We talked about lots of things but eventually she took our hands and came back over. Whilst this is our job, it was a satisfying moment.”

Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey, whose constituency takes in Suffolk Constabulary headquarters in Martlesham, said: “I know these officers will not want singling out for praise but they did extremely well in a difficult situation. They were calm, professional and managed to talk the women to safety. We are very proud of our officers in Suffolk and I can’t praise these two enough.”

Fellow MP, Dr Dan Poulter, who represents North Ipswich and Central Suffolk, said: “We are very proud of our frontline emergency services and our doctors and nurses. People do not always realise how they put their own safety on the line in helping others.

“In Suffolk we have some terrific officers who go the extra mile and we often forget how dedicated all emergency crews are.”

Ipswich police commander, Supt David Skevington, praised his officers but said they would not want singling out. Both men later returned to other duties on a busy night shift.

Two fire crews were on stand by during the drama and the woman, who was sectioned under the Mental Health Act, was later under care at Ipswich Hospital.