A GROUP of workmen are seriously injured in an accident on a building site and another has collapsed after suffering a heart attack.

What should a group of youngsters do on finding such a scene?

A seven-strong team of Radcliffe girl guides had the chance to experience such a scenario thanks to a '999 Challenge Day' organised by Greater Manchester ambulance, police and fire services.

Members of 14th Radcliffe St Thomas's Guides spent the morning at Ladybridge Hall in Chorley New Road, Heaton, which is Greater Manchester Ambulance Service's training centre.

The girls, aged 11 and 12, took part in a series of tests to assess how much they have learned over the last few months, having also visited police and fire headquarters.

They were then placed in the middle of a carefully created drama where workmen have been injured after an offender has climbed onto the roof of a derelict building and attempted to steal lead slates.

As the building has collapsed, one man has been electrocuted, another suffers a heart attack after running to find help, a third man breaks his leg after a sink drops on him and the fourth victim has been impaled by a sharp piece of wood.

The guides were monitored by 999 experts to see how they reacted to the accident before alerting the emergency services. They were also showered in fake bricks to make them aware of the dangerous state of the building site.

Guide leader Pam Simpson said: "They seem to have enjoyed all the challenges and learned quite a lot. It's the first time we've ever done this, but we will certainly try and do it again."

Assistant divisional officer David Rainford, from the fire service, said: "The kids have done quite well because they are only very young.

Mountains

"It's the first time we've held such an event here, but we will do it again.

"We normally set up road traffic accidents, but this is the sort of real life scenario youngsters might find themselves in."

The actors taking part in the mock accident were members of the Altrincham-based Casualties Union. They work with all sorts of emergency services and rescue groups such as the Red Cross and St John's Ambulance.

They are fully qualified first aiders and work in any scenario, from being stuck on a mountain to pretending to be run over by a bus.