Three St Albans men who stopped a suicidal man hurling himself to his death from a railway bridge are to receive top national life-saving honours.

In a scene described as resembling something out of an action movie they managed to grab the man’s legs just as he was disappearing head first over a parapet which led to a ten metre drop on to an electrified rail line.

Now the three, Michael Brand, 26, of Elm Drive, Daniel Smallcorn, 28, of Ashley Road, and James Stannard, 33, of Beechwood Avenue, are to receive Royal Humane Society testimonials on parchment.

Speaking at the Society’s London headquarters as he announced the awards Dick Wilkison said: "This rescue must have resembled something out of an action movie.

"They just grabbed the man’s ankles in the nick of time and saved him from plummeting to his death.

"They were the right people in the right place at the right time and richly deserve the awards they are to receive."

The incident happened at the King William Crossroads and Railway Bridge in Beech Road in the early hours of September 5 last year.

The three rescuers were in a car and first spotted the man sitting in the middle of the road on a suitcase.

They stopped and James Stannard asked him what he was doing. He said he wanted to be left alone and wanted to die.

Taking up the story Dick Wilkison said: "They thought at this stage it was some sort of prank but Mr Stannard told the man they would be back shortly and if he was still there they would move him.

"When they returned he was still there and Daniel Smallcorn positioned the car to protect the man while James Stannard talked to him for about 30 minutes. He eventually persuaded him to go to the pavement.

"Once he was convinced the man was no longer a danger to himself he turned to go to the car.

"But as he did so Michael Brand shouted a warning and he turned to see the man using a road name sign as a stepping stone to launch himself over the bridge parapet.

"He rushed forward and managed to grab the man’s leg just as he was about to disappear completely over the wall.

"He was joined by Michael Brand who grabbed the other leg and between hem they managed to haul him back to the safety of the pavement.

"Police were called and then the three of them held the man until police arrived to prevent him harming himself."

No date has been set for presentation of the awards which have been made following a recommendation from Hertfordshire police.