An Aberystwyth police officer has been named as a finalist in the St David Awards for her bravery in helping people escape the fire that destroyed a seafront hotel.

DC Jessica Hanley has been nominated as a finalist in the bravery category of the St David Awards, which will be held in Cardiff on Thursday, 19 March.

Local company Aber Instruments have also been named as finalists in the innovation, science and technology category.

DC Hanley was one of the first officers on scene at the Ty Belgrave hotel when a blaze broke out in the early hours of the morning in July 2018.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government, which organises the awards, said: “Jessica demonstrated selfless bravery, endangering herself to save people trapped in the Ty Belgrave hotel when it was on fire in July 2018.

“One of the first officers on the scene, Jessica was able to help several people out of the hotel before the first fire crews arrived, and assisted in rescuing 59 people from the building.”

Aber Instruments, based at Aberystwyth Science Park, designs, manufactures and supplies systems used in the biotech, brewing, biorenewables and biofuel industries, employing 43 people across the company.

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