RESIDENTS are being reminded not to be alarmed this weekend as a major training operation takes place on Portland.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is co-ordinating a multi-agency exercise on the island from 8am to 5pm on Sunday.

The large-scale exercise will test Dorset’s effectiveness to respond to emergencies and will involve the fire brigade, Dorset Police, the county council, Weymouth and Portland Council, the Environment Agency, voluntary agencies and Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

Islanders are being reassured that it is only an exercise and that they do not have to take any action whatsoever. Exercise lead, head of service, Bob Hark, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to test the establishment of a rest centre, alongside the many operational requirements that such a large-scale incident scenario would bring. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the communities of Portland, Castletown, Fortuneswell, Wyke Regis and Dorchester that they may well see many appliances and other emergency service vehicles in the area but it is nothing more than an exercise and that they are in no way at risk throughout its duration.”

He added that the fire service conducts drills to ‘uphold effective’ performance levels.