AN EMERGENCY operation was carried out at the Winter Gardens in Weston last week.

AN EMERGENCY operation was carried out at the Winter Gardens in Weston last week.

North Somerset Council held a 'mock' evacuation exercise at the town centre venue.

Exercise Square Leg, as it was known, involved setting-up a rest centre for 'evacuees'.

Hundreds of Weston College students and scores of other residents from across North Somerset took part in Exercise Square Leg, which involved setting up a rest centre for 'evacuees'.

The scenario given was that prolonged and heavy rain had led to flooding in the Congresbury and Wrington areas resulting in the evacuation of about 130 homes.

Around 200 volunteer evacuees were taken to the rest centre throughout the course of the day.

Other agencies expected to take part in the exercise included the police, British Red Cross who treated 'pretend' patients, North Somerset Primary Care Trust and the Salvation Army.

Among the youngsters being 'treated' for their wounds were 16-year-olds Hannah Osbourne of Worle Moor Road in Weston and Jenny Haynes, who lives in Bibury Close in Nailsea.

They got involved as part of their public services course at Weston College.

Jenny had to pretend she had hurt her leg and Hannah had a 'fake' injured arm.

It was the first 'live' exercise of its kind conducted by North Somerset Council for several years.

The aim was to enable unitary authority and voluntary agency staff to practise the management and reception of casualties at a rest centre in preparation for a real mass evacuation.

To see the pictures buy this week's Weston & Somerset Mercury............