A COURAGEOUS young woman has been commended by Thames Valley Police for breaking up a vicious fight.

Annie Gough, 22, was just 20 when she was forced to intervene in a serious and violent incident when she was supposed to be enjoying a shift at work.

Ms Gough was working behind the bar at Ye Olde George pub on Slough's High Street when a brawl broke out between two revellers back in April 2014.

Annie demanded the men leave the premises but they continued to pummel each other in the street in front of the pub.

Annie ran outside to intervene, by which time one of the men had been punched and kicked to the ground and was being pinned to the floor by his head.

The grounded man had cuts on his face and neck and swelling to his top lip and there was potential for him to sustain a serious injury.

The young bar worker managed to diffuse the situation, breaking up the fight and preventing further injury to the men.

Once the fracas had died down she called the police.

Ms Gough received a commendation for her bravery in putting her own safety on the line in the incident and preventing further serious injuries to the men from the Chief Constable of the Thames Valley Police, Francis Habgood, at an awards ceremony in Reading on Thursday, November 24.

She said: “It all happened very quickly at the time. The pub was quite busy, but no one wanted to step in. It was a very violent incident and I was just glad that no-one was seriously injured."

Annie also supported the police's investigation in to the incident and eventually one of the men was sentenced for assault by beating and the other for affray.

Ms Gough was one of 12 members of public and serving officers to receive Chief Constable’s Commendations on the night.