A BARNET police officer who helped neighbours escape from a fire has been awarded for his bravery.

PC Matt Chantry was commended for his actions by Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe at a ceremony at New Scotland Yard.

In May last year, PC Chantry was at home, off-duty with his fiancée when he heard an explosion.

Looking out of his window, he saw neighbours pointing to a flat which had thick black smoke pouring from a living room window.

After telling his fiancée to call 999, the officer banged on the flat door, but got no reply. He looked through the letterbox, and saw the property was full of smoke.

PC Chantry then broke down the door, and was forced to his knees by the smoke as he entered the flat.

As other neighbours started to appear, he told them to leave the building, while he continued to tackle the blaze with a fire extinguisher. During this, he found a large petrol can alight.

Fearing the fire would cut off all routes of escape, PC Chantry directed his neighbours and fiancée out of the building.

As the fire brigade arrived, he alerted them to the petrol can on fire, and gave the name and description of the occupant of the flat.

His neighbour’s body was found inside the flat. The man had suffered a number of stab wounds, and had been murdered when the flat was set alight.

PC Chantry assisted with the investigation into the murder, and was praised by the judge for his actions that day.

In February 2015, a 30 year-old man received a hospital order after admitting the manslaughter of his friend.

PC Chantry said "It is an honour to have been nominated for this award, I feel very privileged to be receiving it.

“Police often go into situations with little or no regard for their own personal safety and these awards go some way to highlighting the amazing work that is done by my colleagues on a daily basis.”

He received a Royal Humane Society Testimonial at the ceremony on November 12 for entering a burning building and evacuating other residents from the block.