TWO men who stepped in to save people when a man wielding an iron bar attacked an Indian restaurant in Devizes have been awarded for their bravery by Wiltshire Police.

Friends Matt Winter, 34, and Richard Miller, 44, were in One Spice in Maryport Street in June when the man smashed a window of the restaurant and tried to get inside.

Mr Winter lodged a chair under the door to prevent the man from getting inside. He and Mr Miller then gave chase when the man ran off towards The White Bear pub where he hit out at a woman and they tackled him to the ground.

Last week both men were recognised for their actions when they were awarded Chief Constable's Certificates of Recognition.

The citation read: "Through your courageous actions you prevented harm to customers inside the restaurant and the possibility of further damage and harm to others. Your quick thinking also enabled important evidence to be provided to the police.

"In recognition of your actions that evening in detaining a violent and aggressive male, Mr Winter and Mr Miller are hereby awarded a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Recognition."

Mr Winter was at the awards ceremony in Devizes to receive his from Chief Constable Mike Veale but Mr Miller was unable to attend. Mr Winter, a former RAF corporal, said both he and Mr Miller, a paramedic, were delighted to be nominated for the award.

Mr Winter from Bromham said: "It was not something I was expecting at all. It was a lovely surprise when I got the phone call about it. On that night we both just reacted to keep the kiddies and others who were in the restaurant safe."

One Spice owner Sohidul Hossain has also thanked the men for their actions.

He said at the time: "We are all very devastated by what happened but we want to thank people for their kind thoughts."

At the awards evening Wiltshire Police described the incident saying: "On the evening in June using a metal pipe the man smashed every window at the front of the premises then turned his attention to the doors of the property where he smashed the glass of both the inner and outer doors.

"Mr Winter and Mr Miller, along with three other male members of the public in the restaurant at the time, took immediate action to stop the male entering the restaurant by blocking and holding the door shut.

"Once the male had finished his violent attack on the property, he left the scene. Mr Winter and Mr Miller, followed him and seeing him as continued threat to the public managed to restrain him whilst awaiting the arrival of the police."