Five Hampshire police officers who disarmed a man brandishing a handgun and two explosive devices have been nominated in The National Police Bravery Awards.

On August 28, PCs Emma Davies and Tim Clarkson attended a Gosport address to detain a wanted man.

They discovered him, but he refused entrance, prompting the officers to call for backup.

READ MORE: Gosport man admits detonating explosive in front of police

Sgt David Gibbs, and PCs Nathan Fulton and Scott Thompson, soon arrived.

While PC Davies stood guard at the back exit, Sgt Gibbs used a battering ram to gain entrance.

Officers entered the property to find the suspect descending the stairs with a handgun to his head, two cross-body bags filled with wires, and clutching a battery pack and detonator.

The man refused to surrender the weapon and detonated the device.

One bag began to spark, filling the hall with 'suffocating, toxic smoke', before the man then pointed his gun at the officers.

PC Davies heard the detonation of the device over her radio, and assuming it was a gunshot, ran to the front of the house to assist her colleagues.

Springing into action, PC Clarkson and PC Thompson managed to Taser the suspect, allowing them, together with Sgt Gibbs, to pull him out of the property.

Despite the risk of the bag that was still on fire, and the potentially noxious powder, the officers battled to disarm the man - ultimately requiring two sets of cuffs to restrain him.

The smoking device was removed from the man, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) confirmed it to be a viable improvised explosive device (IED) containing a bottle full of broken glass and metal ball bearings, which could act as shrapnel.

In February, 54-year-old Damian Mazurkiewicz, pleaded guilty to ‘use of imitation firearm to resist arrest’ and ‘do an act with intent to cause an explosion’.

Zoë Wakefield, chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said: "This incident turned into something completely unexpected and terrifying.

"The officers’ selfless actions, when faced with an armed suspect with an explosive device, displayed their quick thinking, great teamwork and huge courage."

The officers are set to attend a Downing Street reception in July, followed by an evening reception with fellow nominees.