A HUGE emergency services exercise is set to take place in Auchinleck later this week.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue (SFRS), Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), Police Scotland and other personnel will be involved in the event.

The exercise is due to take place within the building and grounds of the former Auchinleck Academy building on Sorn Road on Thursday, March 21.

It's due to last from around 10.30am until after lunch time.

Local are being advised that there is no cause for concern if they see the emergency service vehicles stationed at the former school building.

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Fire crews from Cumnock, Kilmarnock and Ayr will be in attendance.

The school is being used to give a more 'real life' feeling to the training exercise, and to give crews scenarios to deal with.

Martin Spence, SFRS station commander for East, North and South Ayrshire said: "There will be no blue lights or anything, everyone will be proceeding at a normal road speed.

"Locals might see a number of emergency vehicles going through Cumnock and Auchinleck around that time, so it's just to ensure them not to be alarmed.

"It will be a multi-agency exercise, and will involve us testing ourselves to make sure we're up-to-date with incidents that might involve hazmat suits or different scenarios from the norm."

Martin added: "It will test the response for the local crews.

"The support from East Ayrshire Council has been great in allowing us to use the building, it makes it a realistic environment for us to train in it's okay for us to do our own drills, but this is something we'll really benefit from.

"It's important that the emergency services come together and have an understanding of how each other work."