MESSAGE to emergency services: M65 Motorway accident - one man dead, four seriously injured, one trapped in overturned vehicle, tanker on its side spilling acid, driver missing - SORT IT!

That was the scenario facing police, fire and ambulance teams on a major accident exercise alert in Nelson.

More than 40 officers and many emergency vehicles from all over East Lancashire tackled the problems. Others, including medics and hospital casualty unit personnel, observed.

The 90-minute drama, which unfolded on Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, took six months to plan.

Specialists from Accrington's incident support unit cut the trapped man from his overturned vehicle. Paramedic teams and a basics doctor dealt with the casualties - all members of Briercliffe St James' Players drama group.

Trained chemical hazard crewmen dealt with the acid spill.

And Lancashire's police helicopter used its infra-red scanner to track down the missing tanker driver.

"It was an invaluable exercise and one which has taught many lessons," said Nelson fire brigade station officer Nick Isherwood, who came up with the idea.

"It showed how best to respond to the requirements of both the emergency and requirements of our colleagues in other services."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.