A BUSTLING market square became the setting for a dramatic rescue operation this weekend.

Watched by crowds of weekend shoppers, teams of firefighters carefully cut free victims of a car accident in Darlington market square.

However, none of the victims suffered life threatening injuries as the crash scene was a set-up, used by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service to demonstrate their expertise at rescuing casualties from road traffic accidents.

The event was part of the second UN Global Road Safety Week to educate motorists on safe driving to reduce the number of road accidents.

Darlington crew manager, Stuart Rye, said: “We have got mobile phones now that cause so many accidents, as well as drink and drug driving.

“We are hoping this event will educate people and make them see the full impact of what happens during a crash, and what our teams have to go through to get them out.”

The crews have also been visiting schools to give talks and demonstrations to teenagers and young drivers as part of the road safety week.

Adam Hall, Darlington district manager for the fire service, said: “The emergency services commit a lot of their resources to attending road traffic collisions and they are the biggest killer of young people in this country.

"We hope by creating this dramatic spectacle in such a public place that people will listen to the safety messages the fire and resuce service and police are delivering.”

For more information visit who.int/roadsafety/week/2013