Off-duty cop and his wife honoured for their bravery in Coatbridge

An off-duty policeman who tackled a man armed with a machete in a shopping centre car park is among 47 people honoured with a bravery and heroism award.

PC Mark McDade was with his wife Lorraine when he spotted a man with a large machete and metal pole while they were in the Faraday Shopping Centre car park in Coatbridge, in April 2016.

He told his wife to call the police while he tried to talk to the man and asked him to drop his weapons.

But the man became more aggressive and when he began to pick up his weapons again PC McDade tackled him to the ground.

Mrs McDade, who is also being given a Brave@Heart Award, helped by lifting the weapons away and helped to restrain the man until the police arrived.

The honours recognise acts of bravery and heroism by emergency and voluntary sector workers as well as members of the public.

Six of the winners at the ceremony were also presented with the St Andrew's Award for exceptional acts of bravery.

One of those awards went to Ryan Quinn, who helped following a Rangers' supporters bus crash in October 2016 which left one person dead.

He and St Andrew's First Aid colleagues came across the bus lying on its side on a grass verge as they were travelling to provide cover at the Kilmarnock v Aberdeen match.

Mr Quinn and colleagues began to triage and treat casualties before and after the emergency services arrived on scene.

He also worked to treat a casualty who was trapped under the bus, trying to stem an arterial bleed.

Ryan Baird, 39, from Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway, died after the crash on the A76 at the Crossroads roundabout near Kilmarnock which left 18 other people in hospital.

Despite having dealt with such a traumatic event Mr Quinn then continued on to Rugby Park to provide first aid cover at the Kilmarnock v Aberdeen match.

The awards were presented by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a special event held at Edinburgh Castle on Tuesday.

She said: Each year I am honoured and humbled to be able to present these awards to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery.

This is our chance to say a heartfelt thank you to those who, every day risk their lives in their professional roles and to members of the public who have stepped in to help a fellow citizen in danger or distress.

Everyone who has been nominated for an award is a credit to Scotland and an inspiration to us all.''

Seventeen of the awards were handed to members of the public.

Brave@Heart 2017 panel chair, Lindsay Burley said: In my final year as chair of the judging panel I am amazed by the heroism demonstrated by all those nominated for an award.

We must never forget how privileged we are to have such dedicated emergency professionals and members of the public, willing to assist even when their own lives are in danger. They are an inspiration to us all and I would like to offer my congratulations to all the winners.''