Fake plane crash training exercise is carried out

A training exercise created around a made-up crash between two RAF aircraft has been taking place in Northampton, to test to resilience of emergency services.

Police, fire and ambulance crews, the military and other agencies have been carrying out the training in the St James area of the town.

A senior police officer said the exercise would "present a real challenge to our emergency response".

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said the large emergency service and military presence "may raise some concerns" and cause minor disruption to residents and businesses, which it has apologised for.

A scenario was being tested where two RAF aircraft had supposedly collided in the air above St James, with debris landing in Westbridge and the surrounding area.

Emergency services have been testing their response in the aftermath, to see how well they work together.

A no-fly zone has been put in place over the town during the training.

Northamptonshire Police said: "Plans exist within each organisation and are regularly tested in table top exercises, but this is the first time in more than 10 years a real-life test of those plans has taken place in Northamptonshire."

Deputy chief constable Ashley Tuckley said the exercise would "allow all partners the opportunity to test their own and joint plans in the field, bringing them off the page and providing vital learning - something recommended following major incidents in other parts of the UK, including Manchester and London".

A public inquiry after the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 found there had been a number of failures in the emergency response, and the fire service was criticised for "serious shortcomings" in responding to the Grenfell Tower fire in the same year.

Police officers are available in the Beat Bus throughout the day in the car park of the Thomas Beckett pub for anyone with concerns.

The force has confirmed that the ongoing investigation into an incident involving a gas tanker on the A45 is nothing to do with the exercise.

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