An off-duty police officer has been hailed a hero after racing to the rescue of a man trapped under a van.

Oxford's crime reduction adviser Graham Milne, 48, was driving home from a wedding in Scotland when he saw a van lose control, veer off a road and roll four times into a field.

The driver was hurled from the cabin and found screaming in pain, trapped underneath the van.

Mr Milne pulled over, ran across the field, and turned the van's engine off to prevent it from exploding.

He then stayed with the driver while waiting for paramedics and firefighters to arrive.

He was handed a Meritorious Conduct Certificate from Tayside Police at a police awards ceremony in Drayton, near Abingdon, yesterday.

The former serviceman said: "At first I couldn't seen him, but that was because he was trapped underneath.

"I think the thing that saved his life was that it was a furrowed field so he was actually in a dip — but he was trapped and I couldn't have moved him.

"I had to get there as soon as I could and make sure he was all right. I didn't know if the van was going to set on fire or blow up. There was nothing I could do but reassure him. I held his hand and spoke to him. He was in a lot of pain. It's fair to say there was a fair bit of screaming."

Mr Milne's wife Laura called the emergency services and Mr Milne helped paramedics administer a drip and first aid.

The driver made a full recovery but the pair have never met.

Mr Milne added: "I didn't think I deserved an award because I did what anyone else would have done.

"I just happened to be the first person there."

The crash happened in 2006 on the A9 near Perth.

Mr Milne had been invited to a ceremony in Scotland to pick up his award and be reunited with the van driver but could not attend.

Instead he was presented with the certificate by Thames Valley Chief Constable Sara Thornton.

The father-of-two previously served for 22 years with the Royal Logistics Corps.

Pc Lynda Burchett, of the domestic abuse unit in Banbury, won a Long Service award for 22 years in the force.