A scene of horror greeted childen of a Worcester school as the emergency services worked desperately to save the victims of a car crash - but thankfully, it wasn't real.

Pupils at Bishop Perowne High School, Merriman's Hill, were shown the aftermath of a car accident to make them think twice about driving dangerously when they pass their test.

Young drivers, mainly males aged 17-24, are most likely to be involved in an accident.

A wrecked purple Ford Escort was set up in the playground as if it had just been in a crash.

Sprawled across the bonnet was a pedestrian with fake blood seeping from head injuries, and under the front wheel, a doll symbolising a dead baby was trapped.

In the car, which was carrying four teenagers, only the driver was alive.

During the 'emergency' the car was made safe, the casualties assessed by paramedics, before firefighters cut the trapped driver from the wreck.

The dead were laid out in front of the watching pupils to ram home

the Dying to Drive message.

It was the first time the Hereford & Worcester Fire Service, in conjunction with the police, paramedics and the Worcestershire County Council Road Safety Unit, have set up the horrific scene in the county.

Fire Service spokesman Alec Mackie said: "We have put on this horror show to tell young car drivers the consequences are of accidents in the hope they will remember what they have seen when they get behind the wheel."

The scene was supplemented by classroom activities to ensure the message was firmly rooted, said county council road safety officer Roger Woodward, MBE.

"We staged this accident so pupils could see what the emergency services see when they go to an accident," he said.

And it seemed to have an effect. Luke Butler, aged 14, from Barbourne, said: "It was pretty realistic and puts me off joyriding, but I still want to drive."

"I didn't realise it took so long to cut someone out of the car."

Rowena Davis, aged 14, from Barbourne, added: "It would put me off getting in a car with someone if I didn't feel safe with them. It was really horrible to look at."

Ambulance team leader Mark Boucher said: "Every year we get called to serious and fatal accidents, including many where young drivers have been involved, so it is important for us to get out and do this sort of awareness work. We hope to never meet any of the students at the scene of a real road accident."