A Bradford special constable has finally attended a prestigious national awards ceremony in London - a year after she missed it when she was left stranded on a Scottish island.

But Julie Holmes nearly missed out again after being delayed for hours due to the rail chaos which affected the East Coast main line yesterday.

Thirty one high speed trains were withdrawn for safety checks following the derailment of an express train in Bedfordshire - and Julie said she only just made the ceremony.

The 46-year-old Odsal police Special Commandant was chosen as the winner of last year's Ferrers Trophy, an award which recognises outstanding achievement within the country's Special Constabulary.

She was due to break off from her holiday in the Outer Hebrides to pick up the award after a local businessman loaned her and her family his private jet so she could make the trip to London.

But Stornaway airport was closed because of bad weather and she was left heartbroken. Superintendent Ray Brown, of West Yorkshire Police, had to pick up the award on her behalf.

But the mother-of-two attended last night's ceremony at the Home Office in London, where Home Office Minister Alun Michael was also present.

She said: "I had been really looking forward to seeing what I missed last year and finding out who won the award this year."

She said she felt jinxed after another travel problem hit her plans.

Julie impressed the judges last year for her innovative approach to recruitment and her professional commitment to the force.

Julie, who joined the Special Constabulary in 1986, paid tribute to her colleagues at Odsal police station. "A lot of it is down to the team work.''

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