PEEL is being "evacuated" tonight - as part of a Civil Defence training exercise.

But as it is only an exercise no residents will be required to leave their homes.

When they arrived for their weekly training session volunteers were told there had been an incident in the vicinity of the Peel Power Station/Total storage depot area.

The training exercise necessitates the "evacuation" of people from their homes in Close Chairn.

In the fictional scenario there have been a number of casualties and at least two deaths.

Around 30 members of the public have agreed to assist by playing the part of evacuees.

Team leader, Civil Defence volunteer Joyce Kermeen, said: "The main purpose of this exercise is to enable Civil Defence to set up a rest centre following an evacuation for whatever reason.

"Around 30 volunteers will be involved and the main objective is to check mobilisation of volunteers, transport facilities for both equipment and people, providing a place of safety and looking after the needs of displaced people.

"It will exercise correct record keeping for both Casualty Bureau and decision making plus provision of first aid and 'dealing with difficult people'.

"We are very grateful to members of the public who have turned up to assist us in the exercise – it would be impossible to achieve the necessary degree of realism without them giving their time."

The exercise started at 7pm and will run until about 9pm.

Volunteer evacuees will be transported to St John’s where the rest centre will be set up for the duration of the exercise.