Emergency Exercise At Dover

Police, fire and ambulance crews will be testing how they would cope if there was a major chemical incident at the Port of Dover today.

Border officials, the military, ferry company DFDS and Dover and Kent County Councils are also involved in the exercise.

It will simulate what would happen if a lorry, carrying a cargo of hazardous chemicals or materials was damaged.

The test, called Exercise Dover Shield, has been organised by the Kent Resilience Forum and is one of a number countrywide exercises required by the Government to examine planning and preparation at key sites.

No actual chemicals will be used during the event although officials say the scenario will involve a number of simulated casualties.

The Port will be open for business and operating as normal throughout the day.