Two police officers dramatically dived into freezing water to rescue a driver knocked unconscious when her car plunged into a lake this morning.

Metropolitan Police says the actions of the male constables probably saved the 32-year-old woman’s life after her car careered off the road and into the fishing lake off Totteridge Lane shortly after 8am.

Emergency services arrived at the scene as the car began sinking into the cold water at 8.07am.

The two PCs immediately entered the lake and swam over to the blue Nissan Micra before smashing one of the car windows, which was submerged, and dragging the woman out of the car.

She was dragged to the side of the lake suffering from suspected hypothermia as the officers began trying to warm her up in temperatures just above freezing.

Paramedics treated the woman for back pain at the scene before she was rushed to Barnet General Hospital.

Police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, which caused severe rush hour delays while the road was closed.

Totteridge Lane was shut for more than an hour while emergency services dealt with the incident, but the road has since reopened.

Barnet Borough Commander Adrian Usher issued a statement this morning praising the actions of the officers.

He said: "I am incredibly proud of these officers and would like to pay tribute to the speed and courage with which they acted to protect the life of this driver.

"In the bitterly cold conditions we have today, there is little doubt that a sustained period in the water would have posed a serious threat to the woman's life.

"This incident demonstrates the lengths that officers in Barnet, London and across the country are willing to go to in order to protect members of the communities they serve, and they are deserving of our utmost gratitude."