Year five pupils at Cavell Primary School, in Lakenham, have been given an expert insight into the world of emergency disaster relief.

Organised by local housing regeneration specialist, Lovell, and Norfolk's Urban Search and Rescue Unit (USAR), the pupils got to see specialist vehicles and equipment which is used in disaster situations yesterday.

The children asked questions and looked at and used equipment that the USAR team had, such as GPS for mapping out areas in a disaster, a stretcher for rescuing people stuck on mountains or in the sea and equipment for finding people caught under buildings or rubble.

Pupils also built makeshift emergency shelters using tarpaulins and wood provided in the afternoon. David Hopkins, assistant headteacher at the school, said: 'The children gained an insight into job opportunities, survival skills, health issues and teamwork. They loved it.'

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