Firefighters have tackled a mock chemical attack in south London during an exercise testing their response skills ahead of the Olympic Games.

Crews used specialist equipment to practice decontaminating more than 100 victims as part of the test at Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.

Officers were trained in dealing with chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear scenarios.

The three-hour rehearsal involved dozens of firefighters.

"This opportunity to come to an actual venue gives us much more realism," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mark Andrews of the London Fire Brigade.

"It allows us to really give ourselves a rigorous test as to whether or not our resilience and our training is actually effective."

Read More...........
Reproduced under licence from BBC News © 2011 BBC