Air Ambulance appeal administrator Mary Laing found out first hand what it's like to be a casualty.

She played the role of an accident victim at a combined emergency services mock rescue in Box Quarries.

The scenario was a mountain biker crashing off her cycle on a path running through Box Wood, and falling 28ft into a disused quarry.

With suspected spinal injuries, it was a situation that called for the fire service rope rescue teams.

Corsham fire team recently underwent training in rescues and the mock accident put them to the test.

They were the first on the scene and called in the specialised rope rescue teams from Chippenham and Trowbridge, who were flown by helicopter to the remote location.

Assistant Divisional Officer Steve William, who organised the rescue test, said: "We have set up an exercise with some very clear aims and objectives in mind.

"The principle one is to make use of the Air Support Unit to transport specialist fire fighters to the scene to perform a rope rescue drill.

"This sort of training is very important. We all talk about how good we are and this will test us.

"We are putting ourselves to the test and if there are lessons to be learnt we will take them away and learn from them.

"The beauty is we are working with our colleagues from the police and ambulance and that is what it's all about, working together."

In the two-and-a-half-hour rescue operation three firefighters abseiled down the quarry face to attend to the injured rider.

Mrs Laing was strapped to a special stretcher and gently raised up the cliff face.

And for the victim, who normally has a administration role at the Air Ambulance headquarters, it was an enlightening experience

She said: "It was quite frightening really. But once I was strapped in for the ascent I felt quite safe.

"I am just glad I couldn't look down the cliff face.

"It was a difficult cliff face to go up so the lads did really well."