Cockling emergency plans drawn up

There have been five cockling emergencies this year already

Emergency plans to prevent a Morecambe Bay-style tragedy on the Solway Firth are being drawn up during a major cross border exercise.

The Annan event involves emergency organisations in a bid to co-ordinate a response to a major cockling disaster.

Emergency services have launched five rescue operations in the Solway Firth this year alone.

Ch Supt Mike McCormick said they must draw on the experience of past events to prevent further loss of lives.

"We want to learn from the experience of other police forces in other areas," he said.

The Solway can be very, very treacherous indeed Coastguard Tony Wood

"Not least the people who were involved in the policing of the tragedy at Morecambe Bay."

Mr McCormick said the operation in Annan would run through all possible scenarios to ensure the best possible co-operation between agencies.

"We do already have a plan in place but what we hope to do through this exercise is to identify any areas where that plan could be improved," he said.

'Caught out'

Solway Coastguard Manager Tony Wood said it was vital that organisation was as fine tuned as it could be.

"The Solway can be very, very treacherous indeed," he said.

"The water comes in very quick, there is a lot of it coming and it covers a large area unexpectedly. You can easily get caught out."

He said that hopefully the operation would ensure co-operation was "top line" in the event of an emergency.