BOWLAND Pennine Mountain Rescue Team put themselves to the test with their annual training exercise.

Held among the outstanding natural beauty of the Trough of Bowland, over 60 personnel endured endless driving rain and low cloud to take part and see how they could deal with a massed casualty environment.

The exercise, held at the weekend, was based on a mid-air collision between two aircraft, an RAF Tornado on exercise in the area and a small passenger plane bound for Blackpool Airport.

The 'casualties' were a mixture of staff from Royal Preston Hospital, the Red Cross and supporters of the team.

Some were placed over four miles from the nearest road, requiring expert use of search dogs, organisation and manpower to carry the casualties to safety and the treatment they would need in a real emergency.

Over 17 casualties were recovered by the team, some of whom were treated at the scene.

In a real situation, they would then have been handed over to Lancashire Ambulance at the nearest road for rapid transport to hospitals.

For more details, visit www.bpmrt.org.uk or call Andy Binstead, team officer, on 01772 863963.