A MAN was treated in hospital after a serious car crash in which dangerous chemicals spilled on to a busy motorway.

Police and other emergency services rushed to the scene of the horror smash just after 11am on Tuesday morning (Nov 11).

But despite the carnage and a jack-knifed lorry on the neighbouring carriageway, all was not as it at first seemed...

The incident, on a stretch of the new M65 in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, was a valuable training exercise - codenamed Operation Interface - for Lancashire Constabulary officers and colleagues from the fire brigade and ambulance service.

Inspector John Spencer, of the Motorway Unit, said: "Our statistics show an increase in some injury accidents. On a motorway the difference between a minor injury accident and a fatal accident is down to luck. "Police officers who patrol the motorways in the county are often the first to arrive at the scene of an accident. It's important they know what action to take.

"These exercises simulated a serious accident. Their efforts were assessed and we were able to learn how effective and efficient we are." The emergency services were involved in all aspects of solving the problem, from cordoning off the road and identifying and getting rid of the gas, to comforting distressed passengers and treating the injured.

Lancashire Fire Brigade Divisional Officer Peter Halleron said: "It was absolutely superb. It helped us build up relationships ready for when we go to the real thing."

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