WITH the threat of war looming, organisations all over the country are planning and practising their emergency strategies.

If disaster struck in Preston or South Ribble, one man who knows how to react is chief emergency planning officer Bernard Kershaw.

A former police officer, Bernard, 57, has masterminded security for national sporting events, he has dealt with bomb scares; his expertise was even called up during the foot and mouth epidemic.

He and his ten-strong team are part of a huge network of trained staff who would respond directly to a major incident, be it a major plane crash, an incident at BNFL Springfields, or a hostage taking in the town hall.

Bernard, who is based at the county council's offices in Lea Road, Lea, said: "If there was a biological attack we would follow guidance from public health officials and in the event of a terrorist attack we would wait for instruction from the Government."

Working with the emergency services, local councils, industry and the voluntary sector, Bernard plans how to minimise the effects of a disaster on the people and the county. It may involve evacuating residents, cordoning off roads or setting up emergency telephone hotlines.

He said: "We had a call the other morning in response to a fire at The Essex Hotel in Preston. We thought we may have to find accommodation for people. In the end it wasn't needed, but that is just an example of what we do.

"There are 30 premises around the county, mainly sport centres, where people can go, if they had to leave their homes. Evacuees need to be registered which is the role of the British Red Cross. They need to be fed, which is primarily the role of the WRVS and the Salvation Army take, people in distress."

Even the RSPCA get involved, rehousing pets.

Bernard added: "These volunteers donate their time to training and they are utterly professional."

With 36 years at Lancashire Constabulary's planning department, Bernard monitored the party political conferences in Blackpool and golf tournaments at Lytham.

He moved to emergency planning in 2001.