MOTORISTS were given a stark reminder of the need to cut their speed at the weekend - when the emergency services joined forces to stage a gruesome car smash.

The staged accident, involving two cars, was held outside the Victoria shopping centre, Harrogate.

Dealing with the "tragedy" were police, fire and ambulance personnel, together with a trauma team from Harrogate District Hospital. The scenario was staged as part of the long-running Operation Siren, which was launched a year ago to get people to cut their speed.

Ambulance group station officer Peter Mortimer said: "We held a staged rescue to show the public exactly how the emergency services work together in such incidents. I think they were surprised at the number of people involved and the variety of jobs they had to perform."

Inspector Kevin Doyle, police community safety officer, said: "Ninety people were killed on North Yorkshire roads last year.

"We hope this demonstration has had an impact on drivers and made them think twice about speeding and their driving behaviour."

Fire and rescue teams also showed videos and demonstrated the use of crash rescue equipment, and a ladder platform.