A female police officer was badly assaulted in Totnes, resulting in a suspected broken wrist.

PC Zoe Carter was thrown at some railings on The Plains after attempting to detain a man suspected of racially abusing staff in the nearby Totnes Grill.

The suspect carried on attacking the officer, until a brave member of the public stopped him by using an “unorthodox but very effective and reasonable” method, a police spokesman said.

Last Friday night a member of the public flagged down PC Gav Bulley who was passing to report a man racially abusing take-away staff.

The police spokesman explained: “PC Bulley stopped to speak with the male but was assaulted and the male offender ran off, PC Bulley in pursuit.

“PC Zoe Carter was on patrol nearby and heard PC Bulley ask for assistance. She attempted to detain the offender who then assaulted her, by flinging her into some nearby railings, resulting in a suspected broken wrist.

“The offender proceeded to further attack PC Carter but was preventing from doing so by the original member of the public, who saw her in trouble.

“He used an unorthodox but very effective and reasonable way (in the circumstances) of curtailing further nasty injuries to PC Carter until PC Bulley arrived to make the arrest.”

On their Facebook post about the incident, which was tagged #UnacceptableNotPartOfTheJob, Totnes Police wrote: “We would like to publicly thank you sir for your efforts (currently a witness and so no details can yet be released) in assisting officers to apprehend this violent male and preventing what could have been a serious assault on PC Carter.

“PC Carter needs further scans to determine the severity of her injury before a likely operation. PC Bulley was uninjured.”

In response, Nikki Stevens wrote: “Makes me very sad to read of events like this in our town. Please send our love to PC Carter and I hope she recovers quickly. No job is worth being assaulted in such a way, but we thank her for her service and dedication anyway.”

Sarah Macneill added: “Bloody disgusting behaviour. I hope both Zoe and Gav are ok. Both are very nice police officers and do not deserve it. A huge well done to the “hero” who helped too!!!”