A major training exercise involving all three emergency services has taken part in Shropshire today.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Ambulance and West Mercia Police took part in the exercise at Eardington Halt on the Severn Valley Railway line near Bridgnorth.

The scenario for the exercise involved a car that crashed through a bridge above the railway line and landed on the tracks. The car was then struck by a train and pushed along the line.

The buffet car on the train then caught fire and more than 20 casualties, played by Telford College of Arts and Technology students, were then trapped and injured in the “wreckage” of the train, in the wrecked car and others are lying injured on the embankment.

The exercise involved firefighters from several fire stations, West Midlands Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Rescue Team and Police officers.

Severn Valley Railway generously allowed the emergency services to stage the exercise on and near the line close to Eardington Halt station.