Sussex firefighters in Shoreham aircraft crash exercise

Firefighters have taken part in a simulated aircraft crash in West Sussex as part of a training exercise.

The scenario, near Shoreham Airport, involved a light aircraft that has crash landed with two people on board.

Crews from Littehampton, Shoreham and Worthing fire stations took part alongside the airport's fire service.

A scrap light aircraft was used for the exercise, which tested fire crews' search and rescue skills as well as the airport's emergency plans.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue said firefighters would conduct their search and rescue mission in the dark with areas of live fire around the simulated accident site making search conditions as "unpredictable and challenging as possible".

Mark Ross, watch commander for Shoreham Fire Station who is overseeing the exercise, said: "This is a scenario that none of us would wish to be faced with, but by putting our skills, resources and equipment to the test it ensures we are fully prepared for similar incidents in real life."

The two-hour exercise started at 19:30 GMT and was run outside the airport's normal operating hours.