THESE two firefighters may look like extras from a science fiction film.

But they were, in fact, helping to deal with the aftermath of a chilling training exercise in Bury.

And the event allowed firefighters to step up their preparations to deal with terrorist attacks.

While nuclear, biological and chemical warfare drills were a priority for soldiers fighting in Iraq, Greater Manchester Fire Service is ensuring its crews are ready to deal with "dirty bomb" tactics that could be used in this country.

Fifty firefighters from Bury, Whitefield, Heywood and Rochdale had their skills put to the test with a simulated terrorism attack at Pilsworth's Warner Brothers Cinema.

The "casualties" were played by students from Bury College who later enjoyed a free film and popcorn as a thank-you for taking part in the exercise.

The scenario, according to exercise organiser, Bury station officer Gary Manock, was that a radiation bomb containing radioactive material had been detonated in one of the auditoriums. The task for responding fire crews was to clear the building of casualties. It was essential that the firefighters practised their skills at setting up improvised decontamination areas.

Mr Manock said: "The scenario was that a terrorist had planted a radiation bomb in the cinema. The resulting explosion produced several casualties and the entire building and everyone in it was contaminated with radiation.

"The aim of the exercise was to assess how the crews dealt with the initial explosion and the evacuation and decontamination of those inside the cinema."

Shortly after 10.30am, the fire alarms were set off at the cinema. With only sketchy details of the incident, crews from Bury raced to the scene, unaware of a chemical threat.

On their arrival, firefighters donned breathing apparatus and, unprotected against chemicals and radiation, entered what would have been the smoke-filled, debris-littered foyer.

It was the job of the rapid-reaction crew to establish exactly what had happened and relay information to controllers. Procedures would then be put into place to call in extra crews and specialist equipment.

In a real incident, the fire service would work alongside the police, and military. They would also have state-of-the-art decontamination units which feature male and female shower areas. Until they arrive, however, the firefighters improvise by using three of their engines to form a shower area. The vehicles are parked next to each other and hoses are placed between them. The walking wounded would strip off and be decontaminated.

Having established a chemical incident, the first crews to enter the building would be removed for decontamination and would be replaced by colleagues in chemical-protection suits. Their role was to evacuate the least wounded and move them to the decontamination areas. Other teams would then go in for the more serious cases.

Fortunately for the students, this incident was just an exercise and they were spared the embarrassment of stripping off. But they still had to go through the motions of passing through the improvised decontamination area and pretend to shower.

Mr Manock said: "Had this been a real incident, the entire place would be crawling with hundreds of people and machinery. The police would create a cordon, ambulance crews would deal with the casualties and other agencies would be working frantically to contain the situation.

"The aim was to ensure that the fire crews can set up their own decontamination facilities. We hope we will never have to use these procedures but it is imperative that all firefighters are trained to deal with terrorism attacks."