Eight police officers who stopped a mentally ill woman stabbing herself to death were commended for their bravery and quick thinking at the Redbridge Police awards on Tuesday.

The ceremony to recognise the contribution of Redbridge police officers, witnesses and informants was held at the Jack Carter Pavilion in Fencepiece Road, Barkingside.

Two constables were called to a home in Lowe Close in May 2011 to reports of a domestic disturbance.

But when they arrived, they found blood splattered on the windows and could see a woman stabbing herself repeatedly in the stomach with a pair of scissors.

When they knocked on the door, she hurled objects and threatened to kill anyone who entered but when more officers arrived they decided they had to go in to stop the woman harming herself.

After smashing the door glass with a hammer and breaking in, the police found the woman armed with scissors and a piece of wood bleeding on her bed.

They disarmed her but in the struggle, one constable injured his leg and another was cut on the hand.

The woman was eventually restrained by six officers, given first aid and taken to Goodmayes Hospital.