EMERGENCY teams tested their response to a simulated terrorist attack in a four-day training exercise mounted in Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Police's chemical and biological response teams were joined by the other emergency services in the intensive exercise, codenamed Voodoo Station'.

It was held at the former US airbase at Upper Heyford last month and involved representatives from Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services and the Ambulance Service.

Supt John Turnbull, the Exercise Voodoo Station director, said: "These exercises are conducted every two years and are designed to test particular equipment, techniques and personnel in lifelike and challenging scenarios.

"The overriding aim of the exercise was to examine, test and compare the ways in which different agencies approach the retrieval of potentially contaminated evidence after a terrorist attack.

"This type of exercise not only tests our readiness but helps nations to share information and pool resources."

Throughout the week, the teams faced a number of scenarios including the recovery of potentially hazardous material and an explosive device from a vehicle. They also tackled a simulated terrorist chemical/biological manufacturing facility in a block of flats.

Towards the end of the week, a table-top exercise was held to test commanders from the emergency services and local authority emergency planning officers in elements of co-ordination and command and control in the critical first few hours of a developing terrorist incident.

Supt Turnbull added: "There is no question that this exercise was of tremendous value to all the agencies involved, allowing us to exchange essential information, ideas and practices to enhance any future investigations."