A SPECIAL service was held to commemorate a heroic Frinton police officer who was shot in the line of duty.

Acting Sgt Brian “Bill” Bishop was gunned down by an armed raider on August 22, 1984.

He was called into action after a spate of armed robberies were reported to police.

The suspect had used a sawn-off shotgun to hold up post offices in Frinton and Walton, escaping with thousands of pounds.

Brian caught up with the robber on Frinton seafront. He was crouching behind a car door with another officer when the robber opened fire.

One of the bullets hit Brian in the head and he died in hospital five days later.

A granite memorial stone was unveiled in Frinton, near the scene of the shooting, in 1986 by the Police Memorial Trust.

Brian’s family members were joined by police officers and dignitaries for the special service at the seafront memorial.

It was held last Friday – 30 years to the day after the shooting.