A POLICE officer based in Warrington who risked her life to arrest a violent man is part of a team who flew out to the British Virgin Islands to help with the relief effort following Hurricane Irma.

PC Julie Bennett, along with her colleague PC Collette McGowan from Cheshire Police's headquarters, have been deployed for around four weeks to help people recover from the devastating impact of the hurricane, which struck the biggest of the islands Tortola on September 9.

The officers are travelling with colleagues from across the north west and flew out to the islands from the military base RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

PC McGowan said: “I only found out last week that I was going so it has been a quick turnaround.

"I’m really excited to have this opportunity and think it will be a great experience.

“We are not yet sure where we will be based or what we will be doing day to day but we are looking forward to helping people with the relief effort.”

PC Bennett added: “It’s a unique experience and a fantastic opportunity to help people who really need support following the hurricane.

“We are expecting to stay for a minimum of three weeks and I think we will be staying in disused hotels and camping areas.”

ACC Janette McCormick said: “We are humbled to be able to offer the services of our officers to support those who have had their lives devastated by Hurricane Irma.

“We have heard from other police forces who have already been to the British Virgin Islands that there is a lot of rebuilding work to be done, and we want to help as much as we can towards those efforts."

PC Bennett, along with PC Leah Greenacre, has previously been named as the winner of the bravery award by the British Association of Women in Policing and the International Association of Women Police.