Volunteers from across Hertfordshire will be out in force this weekend to practice the vital role they would play in the event of a major emergency in the county.

Members of five major voluntary groups will be taking part in Exercise Gemini on Sunday and will be helping to run two test centres at Baldock and Welwyn Garden City.

They will be set up to care for the `walking wounded' and evacuees after a series of explosions around the county.

The voluntary agencies taking part are the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, Radio Amateurs Emergency Network, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance and the Salvation Army.

The exercise, organised by the Hertfordshire Voluntary Emergency Committee, aims to test call-out procedures and strengthen the confidence of voluntary groups to be prepared for a crisis.

Also taking part will be the county's social services and emergency planning service with police and fire and rescue service representatives observing.

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