TWO police officers saved a man’s life after he doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself on fire.

PC Richard March, based at Stanway road policing unit, and PC Mark Ayling, a response officer in Laindon, were called to reports of a man pouring petrol over himself and his car at a petrol station.

They spent two hours searching for the man then convinced him not to harm himself.

Chief Insp Craig Carrington praised officers for their quick thinking.

He said: “They made him see there’s a future for him and his family needed him. They saved his life. People see the police as dealing with just criminals but we are dealing with people.

“Dealing with people in crisis and missing people is becoming more common now.”

The report came in on Friday at 3.30pm when a woman phoned emergency services to say the man had been seen going into a Witham petrol station, fill up cans with petrol and pour some over his car and himself.

He threatened to kill himself because of family issues before speeding off.

Officers found the car in a farm lane in White Notley.

Mr Carrington said: “The car was last seen in Silver End and the helicopter took over and found the vehicle parked down a farm lane in White Notley and of - ficers attended.

“Unless you were going for a walk or looking for the spot you wouldn’t have found it, he was really quite determined.

“Officers could smell the petrol. He gave them a key to his car but kept matches and a lighter while they talked to him.

“Crisis negotiators were sent for and the officers persuaded him not to set himself on fire.

“They put themselves in danger by getting close to the man. There was a lot of petrol in the man’s car, the section inside where you would put loose coins was full up with petrol.”

The man was detained under the Mental Health Act.