James Furlong, 36, Dr David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie- Bennett, 39, were murdered in a park on June 20 last year.

       PC James Packman, Sergeant Iain Watkinson, PC Liam Steele and PC Liam King stepped in to catch and detain Libyan Khairi Saadallah, 26.

       Off-duty PC Packman saw the stabbings in Reading, so gave chase.

       The other three rugby tackled and restrained the terrorist – without knowing if he was armed.

       Craig O'Leary, chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation, said: "They are utter heroes.

       "They were unarmed and stopped him before he could harm anyone else."

       The ceremony is next Thursday.