Pc Keith Palmer has been posthumously honoured by the Metropolitan Police for his heroic response during the Westminster terror attack.

The officer, who was stabbed to death outside the Houses of Parliament last March, previously served in the Borough of Bromley between 2002 and 2009.

Pc Palmer was named the winner of the outstanding bravery of the year prize at the Met Excellence Awards yesterday, Friday March 9.

On the day of the attack on March 22, Pc Palmer, a husband and father, was on duty at the Palace of Westminster.

The 48-year-old came face-to-face with Masood, armed with two large knives, moments after the terrorist drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

Intent on protecting his colleagues and the public, Pc Palmer confronted the 52-year-old attacker despite the danger.

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Pc Palmer was named the winner of the outstanding bravery of the year prize at the Met Excellence Awards. Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire 

The policeman was fatally wounded in the incident, which ended when Masood was shot dead by armed officers.

Pc Palmer had served with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Group since 2016 and had been with the Met for 16 years.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood was also honoured at the London ceremony, and was given an outstanding contribution award for his efforts in rushing to help Pc Palmer.

Mr Ellwood, a former soldier, tried in vain to save the officer, giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and applying pressure to stanch the flow of blood from his wounds.

"It's affected my life and I think about it every day," he said.

Mr Ellwood said he cannot help but think about the "dangerous world" people enter every day.

He said Pc Palmer was "an incredible man", adding: "I say this on behalf of every parliamentarian - we never expect to hear shots fired in Parliament, in the mother of all democracies.

"Pc Keith Palmer gave the ultimate sacrifice and we in Parliament are forever indebted for that sacrifice."

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "PC Keith Palmer gave his life to protect the public.

"His courage and dedication to duty in confronting a vicious terrorist is testimony to the bravery shown every day by our police, who work so hard to keep us safe.

"It is absolutely fitting that Pc Palmer and the outstanding bravery he showed have been honoured in this way.

"He paid the ultimate sacrifice in carrying out his duties and I am deeply grateful for his commitment to protect our country and its people."

This is not the first honour for Pc Palmer, as last year it was announced he was to be awarded a George Medal in the Queen's civilian gallantry list.

Four other people were killed in the Westminster attack.