Firearms officers keep the gunman's body in their sights to allow medics to move in.IN a chilling scenario reminiscent of the Hungerford massacre 18 years ago, police medical teams showed how they would cope in a similar situation today.

Things have changed immeasurably since that terrible day in August 1987 when Michael Ryan went on the rampage with an arsenal of weapons.

On Thursday, the 12 police medics attached to Wiltshire police spent the final day of a three-day training course showing how they would cope with an armed hostage situation today.

The scenario they were faced with was of a gunman who killed a shop assistant during an armed raid in Devizes, before holing up in an isolated barn on Roundway Down where he had taken hostage a party of schoolchildren out on a walk with the farmer. Surrounded by firearms officers, the gunman, played by instructor Craig Dalby, loosened off a volley of shots, killing one and injuring many others before fatally shooting himself.

As firearms officers kept their weapons trained on his supine body, the medical teams moved in to survey the casualties.

Inspector Chris Martin, head of the medical squad, said their first task was to prioritise the injured for when the air ambulance arrived. "Those whose injuries are not life-threatening are taken to a dressing station in one of the barns while the seriously injured are airlifted to hospital," he said.

The police/ambulance helicopter played a major role in the exercise. Officers on the ground used a mobile digital plasma screen to receive pictures beamed direct from the helicopter, so they could monitor the situation in the danger area.

Had Thames Valley Police had this technology, which Wiltshire Constabulary helped to develop, during the Hungerford emergency, it could well have saved lives.

PC Andy Pullen was in charge of the operation and had recruited his own family as casualties. His wife, Sally, played the victim who was airlifted to hospital, while his children were among the group from St Joseph's RC Primary School in Devizes who played the hostages.

Six-year-old Edward Palmer said he had enjoyed the afternoon, despite playing a casualty injured in the foot, and would like to do it again. His mum Mary said: "It has been fascinating. It gave me an insight into how the police operate, and I am full of admiration for them."

PC Pullen was pleased with the day. "We always learn something new from these exercises."