FLASHING lights and sirens from fire engines might have caused the blood to run cold at a Ludlow School.

But there was no need to panic because Bedstone College near Bucknell had agreed to work with the fire service on a major training exercise.

However, the scenario being played out was chilling.

The exercise was based upon a fire in the cellars next to a boiler room that is used as a social area by students and, according to the exercise, four were missing.

For an hour-and-a half, fire crews undertook the challenge of ‘rescuing’ students and dealing with the ‘fire.’

Head teacher David Gajadharsingh said the school recognised the importance of helping fire crews to practise.

The college did have a fire in 1996 and in the intervening 20 years there have been a number of false alarms.

During the exercise, incident commanders and observers ‘changed the rules’ every so often to mimic a real emergency to ensure that crews are properly trained to deal with all eventualities.

Bedstone College has every reason to be grateful for the work of our local firefighters.

As many readers will recall, in July 1996 - thankfully during the school holidays - the ‘Great Fire of Bedstone’ almost destroyed the historic Victorian calendar house.

A fire had started under the eaves of the timber building and quickly spread through the roof.

Fire crews from three counties turned out, along with hundreds of villagers and thanks to their efforts there were no injuries and much of the building, major pieces of furniture, archives and artefacts - including a magnificent stained glass window - were saved.

The school remained open and the house was completely rebuilt from the ashes within 18 months to the original specifications by master craftsmen from across the world.