A GOOD Samaritan with a 4x4 who helped police during the snowy weather has been personally thanked by Barnsley's top police officer.

Dave Mills, a coach driver with Yorkshire Rose in Racecommon Road, was off duty when the heavy snow fell on Boxing Day night.

He used his 4x4 to move vehicles stuck on the sliproad of the M1 at Dodworth so he could free an ambulance and then help it on its way to Barnsley Hospital.

Dave then drove to Barnsley police station and asked if he and his four wheel drive could do anything else to help.

For the next five hours he drove police officers into work, took crime victims home and then helped rescue drivers trapped in snowbound cars on the Stocksbridge bypass.

Dave, who is training to be a member of the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire search and rescue volunteers, says he simply wanted to do what he could.

Dave has just been sent a letter of thanks by Barnsley police and a cheque for £100 for the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire search and rescue team.

District commander, Ch Supt Liz Walker wrote to him: "Your support ensured officers struggling to get into work were able to. You transported victims of crime home and rescued members of the public who were stranded on the A616.

"I am extremely grateful for your dedication and selfless efforts, which ensured the safety of the public of Barnsley."