FIREFIGHTERS from St Helens took part in a 14-hour exercise to test how well the emergency services work together.

The exercise – codenamed Joint Endeavour – involved around 1,000 people and fire engines from St Helens, Whiston, Eccleston and Huyton took part.

Held on Thursday, the operation was the result of a two-year training programme aiming to ensure the three 'blue light' services - police, fire and ambulance - can work together to save lives when responding to a major incident.

Joint Endeavour, which involved making 'rescues' from a dangerous environment, took place at the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Training and Development Academy in Liverpool.

Group Manager Chris Case, district manager for St Helens, said: “Firefighters from the St Helens district took part in this exercise, which simulated the significant challenge faced by emergency service personnel when major incidents occur.

"Exercises like Joint Endeavour are invaluable, as they allow our specialist teams to put their skills and knowledge to the test under highly realistic conditions in an environment where effective communication with other emergency services and agencies is essential.

“Merseyside was selected to host the largest validation exercise of the national programme JESIP - the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme. More than 45 officers at our Service have completed the JESIP training so far and the courses they have been on have also led to many good working relationships forming amongst the three emergency services.”

The training programme was directed at officers who are likely to take command in the early stages of the response to a major incident. Other organisations which have also been involved include HM Coastguard and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

The programme was created after public inquiries following a number of major incidents reported that, although the emergency services worked well independently, they did not work together as well as they could.