FIREFIGHTERS from Barrow-in-Furness were among those who attended a mass training exercise near Milnthorpe yesterday.

The scenario saw a military aircraft hit the side of the Junction 36 Exhibition Hall while a conference was taking place inside.

Watch manager and exercise organiser Sue de Lima stressed the importance of such exercises, saying: “It’s like a challenge for ourselves. We have got to plan and prepare for any foreseeable event.

“We get to know that when it does happen, we can deal with the incident.”

The event saw more than 60 firefighters - from areas such as Carlisle, Penrith, Kendal and Silverdale - attend to a total of 11 ‘casualties’; three in cars which the plane hit when it landed, seven inside the J36 Exhibition Hall, and the pilot who had ejected onto the roof.

Ensuring the scene was as realistic as possible, a number of ‘live’ wounded were provided by the Furness branch of the Casualties Union (CU), a charity which provides volunteers for such occasions.

“I have been hung, I have been trapped under a car. My sister calls it the ‘job dead’ club. It’s not for everyone but it’s great,” said CU member Lesley Hartley. “We are helping the emergency services. I like doing the make-up. I enjoy the acting.”