Terror exercise for London

London could suffer a chemical or nuclear attack

A staged terror attack at one of London's busiest Tube stations will take place in the next few months.

The drill at Bank Station, in the financial heart of the city, was due to take place in March but was cancelled because of the conflict in Iraq.

A spokeswoman from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said it will now take place "before the autumn" and London Underground has said it is likely take place in September.

It comes as the government announces its draft Civil Contingencies Bill is an attempt to modernise Britain's emergency planning system.

Earlier this week the head of MI5 warned that a real terrorist strike is only a matter of time.

The original plans for the simulated attack would have involved firefighters, ambulance teams and police as well as 400 personnel, including scores of people who volunteered to be "casualties", for the five-hour simulated event.

Dirty bomb

Announcing the exercise earlier this year, Home Secretary David Blunkett said it would test the ability of emergency services to deal with a "catastrophic incident" in London.

Possibilities for the test included a simulated chemical or biological attack or a dirty bomb - a crudely-made device that combines a simple explosive with radioactive material.

The simulation test would have meant the halting of trains along the five Tube lines which pass through Bank station, as well as the Docklands Light Railway.

Earlier this month, concrete blocks were put up outside the Palace of Westminster in an attempt to thwart any potential terrorist attack.