WILTSHIRE ambulance bosses have ordered 100 chemical protection suits amid ongoing fears of a terrorist attack.

The state-of-the-art suits will allow ambulance staff to safely treat the public in the event of an attack using, for example, smallpox or a dirty bomb.

The service has also taken delivery of four decontamination units, which resemble inflatable showers.

Wiltshire Ambulance NHS Trust has paid for the suits and mobile decontamination units from a £706,000 allocation to ambulance trusts across the South West region.

Senior Wiltshire Ambulance Service officer Steve Arnold said: "We have always had the capacity to deal with chemical and biological incidents to some degree, but this latest equipment reflects the fact that the threat of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack is a very real one.

"The new suits are the best available. They have their own oxygen supply and will provide protection for staff working close to an incident."

He added that the trust was setting up volunteer teams of paramedics who would attend incidents in four specifically equipped major incident vans.

These are filled with necessary equipment ranging from portable decontamination units to extra stretchers and burns dressings.

Mr Arnold said: "It is a sobering prospect, but I am sure that getting ready for an attack and hoping that it never happens is the best approach.

"The stable door is locked, but the horse has not bolted."

Details of the protective measures emerged as the Government announced plans to simulate a catastrophic incident over the next few weeks.

Last month, staff at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon received 12 chemical protection suits and specialist training as part of the same Government initiative.

A major incident drill, involving all emergency services, that was due to be held in Swindon next month has been postponed.

In a written statement, Home Secretary David Blunkett unveiled plans to stage a series of exercises to test whether Britain was prepared for a terrorist attack.

The Government will examine Britain's ability to withstand attacks on flood defences and the national gas supply.

Mr Blunkett also revealed more detail of the new military Civil Contingency Reaction Forces, or CCRFs.

By the end of the year, 14 forces based around territorial army infantry battalions will be in place, comprising up to 500 volunteers drawn from existing reservists.