Glasgow police officers have been honoured with bravery awards after coming face-to-face with unimaginable violence on the frontline.

Police constables George McDonald, Heather Ferry and Alan Kerr were all commended for their actions at the Police Scotland Bravery and Meritorious Service Awards yesterday.

PC McDonald was whacked across the face with an iron by a suspect while PC Ferry and PC Kerr were threatened by a thug carrying a patrol bomb.

A broken nose and several scars left PC McDonald, 35, with permanent disfigurement after he responded to a routine call in the Mosspark area of Glasgow.

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The officer, who has been with Police Scotland for six years, and his colleague attended a block of flats in Drumbrek Court on October 11, 2015 to investigate an assault.

When they arrived, they discovered that an all-night party had been taking place, and the occupants of the flat were anything but welcoming.

The officers had no choice but to force open the door of the flat.

PC McDonald explained: “We were faced by a group of five males of which one jumped out of the flat and started fighting with my other colleagues.

“I tried to keep position at the door as we hadn’t fully broken open the door so it could have been closed.

“On doing so I was faced with four aggressive males and there was a staircase to my left going down.”

He continued: “I felt my leg being grabbed. I was pulled to the floor. One male tried to pull me downstairs, I tried to resist him.

“At this time I was aware of an item being swung by this male on the stairs towards my face, and it turned out to be an iron.

“I was struck on the face several times by the iron.”

PC McDonald attempted to activate his emergency alarm but he couldn’t press his radio because he was covered in blood.

He was eventually dragged out the flat by his colleagues when they arrived for support before being put on a lift to be rushed to hospital.

He said: “As I was being stripped of my body armour I could see my face in the mirror and it was completely red and covered in blood.”

In hospital, his nose was reset twice and he received 12 stitches. He also has permanent scars to on his forehead and between his eyebrows.

Ibrox man Paul McGartland, 20, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for his attack on PC McDonald at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

On accepting his award, PC McDonald said: “I actually thought it was a joke when I found out I was getting the award.

“I felt quite humble that there was an acknowledgement there for what I had done. At the time though I didn’t think I was doing anything spectacular, I was just doing my job.”

PC Kerr, 29, and PC Ferry, 24, were called to Stravanan Road in Castlemilk on July 9, 2015 after receiving a report of two men fighting, potentially with knives.

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The officers separated the pair from fighting but one of the men made off.

As they were placing the other man in the back of the police van, they heard shouting in the street.

It was the other man, who originally made off, with a self-made patrol bomb.

He was asked to stop by the officers but he headed towards the property resulting in them chasing him. The officers managed to restrain him and he was arrested.

PC Ferry said: “I am honoured that I was put forward for this award. I thought we were just doing our job. “

PC Kerr added: “You do your best to try and protect people. I am humbled that I have received it but I don’t feel I have done anything over and above what anyone else would have done.”

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Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty said: “Everyday my officers are on the streets of Glasgow making every effort to keep people safe.

“These examples involving Constables Kerr, Ferry and McDonald in separate incidents demonstrate their bravery and quick-thinking that not only risked their own lives to ensure the safety of others but to detect crimes.”