POLICE teams from all over the country made a splash at the weekend when they took part in a lifesaving competition.

The event, organised by Cleveland Police, gave competitors the chance to demonstrate their skills in scenarios staged at Hartlepool Marina, next to the Historic Quay.

Four-strong teams from 19 forces tackled two staged incidents, one land-based near the ship Wingfield Castle, and the other water-based on a slipway close by.

Organiser PC Phil Taylor said the event was designed to improve the standard of lifesaving skills.

He said: "The teams were taken to a room away from the competition site while judges set up the area and casualties were briefed as to their role. Some of them were given life-like injuries to enhance their appearance.

"Teams were then taken one at a time to the first incident and given approximately three minutes to deal with whatever they found. They then had a very brief respite before moving on to the wet incident, where they had a similar time to deal with a scenario in the marina.

"There are usually several 'bodies', from weak swimmers in immediate danger to casualties without a pulse or not breathing."

Competitors were marked on their skills by Royal Life Saving Society judges