John Smeaton is among those honoured for their bravery

John Smeaton, 31, Michael Kerr, 40, Stephen Clarkson, 41, and Alex McIlveen, 45, were honoured at the Daily Mirror awards.

Firefighter Tam Brown, 42, from Perthshire was also be honoured for rescuing a woman from the River Tay.

More than 100 celebrities attended the event in London's west end.

The Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined celebrities including JK Rowling and Ewan McGregor.

It's a great chance to show there are amazing people in this country doing brilliant things which just take your breath away Carol Vorderman

Prince Charles said: "These remarkable awards remind us of the compassion, decency and courage which still exists in every corner of the land."

The recipients were chosen from thousands of nominations by a panel of judges including Gordon Brown's wife Sarah.

The prime minister said: "It's a great honour to take part in Pride of Britain, a highlight in our national calendar, celebrating the very best of our country."

Mr Smeaton, from Erskine, Renfrewshire, helped police tackle a man who drove a jeep into Glasgow's terminal building.

Celebrity salute

Michael Kerr, from Denny, in Stirlingshire, broke a leg after tackling one of the suspects from the jeep.

Taxi driver Alex McIlveen, and groundworker Stephen Clarkson, from Glasgow, helped police arriving on the scene.

Meanwhile, firefighter Tam Brown, from Stanley, caught hypothermia after diving into the River Tay in March.

His actions, which breached Tayside Fire and Rescue policy, were the subject of an internal investigation.

Peter Kay, Westlife, the Sugababes, Ant and Dec, Stephen Fry, Kelly Brook, Dame Shirley Bassey, Jamie Oliver and Little Britain's Matt Lucas and David Walliams will be on hand to salute the winners.

Other participants include top sportsmen Lewis Hamilton, Wayne Rooney and Colin Montgomerie, TV stars Gary Lineker, Davina McCall and Richard Hammond, and a deluge of the nation's soap favourites.