EMERGENCY service crews have been working around the clock to deal with the aftermath of an apartment block collapse as part of a disaster scenario exercise.

A retail unit on fire with human casualties and a building collapse at a Metro station as well collisions between a bus and car were also challenges facing rescuers as part of the simulated exercise.

Crews also had to figure out how to deal with the collapse of an office block featuring scenes of devastation and carnage.

The exercise was co-ordinated by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue service at it headquarters at Barmston Mere, near Washington.

Exercise Endeavour saw emergency services, local authorities and government agencies deal with the staged disasters over a 56 hour period, from Friday morning to today. (Sunday, April 28)

More than 150 people worked in ten-hour shifts with five simulated scenarios including heavy transport collisions, structural collapse, flooding and fire.

Chris Lowther, area manager of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Exercise Endeavour simulated the scale of devastation faced by emergency workers when major incidents or natural disasters occur.

“There were people to be rescued, challenges to be met, and dynamic command decisions to be made.”