THE public - young drivers especially - are invited to attend a Road Safety Awareness Evening to be held at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre overflow car park in Crediton on Tuesday, July 14.

The free event will run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

It will include a mock rescue of a casualty from a car demonstration by Crediton firefighters.

The firefighters will use “jaws of life” cutting equipment to cut the roof off of a car to remove the person safely, placing the person on a spinal injury board.

Crediton Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Ambulance Service will also be attending and offering safety advice.

There will be demonstration videos and emergency services motorbikes and other vehicles.

It is intended that the evening will be inter-active and visitors will be able to experience driving a simulator vehicle.

Police Sgt Dave MacFadden, the Neighbourhood Team Leader for Crediton and Cullompton, said: "This event is aimed at our young or inexperienced drivers who will be using our roads in and around the Mid Devon area.

"As part of the emergency services response to dealing with Road Traffic Collisions we all want to help and educate those drivers to the potential dangers that speeding, driving erratically or ’show boating’ can have and the devastating effect it can have on them, their passengers, pedestrians and other road users.

"To help those drivers, Police, Fire and VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) Officers will be on-hand during the exercise and afterwards to carry out free vehicle checks and advice involving the roadworthiness of your vehicle.

"Please bring your vehicles along, park them in car park next to the event and have them checked by the professionals.

"The event is all about road safety and education and NOT enforcement. Please come along, bring your cars and tell your mates about this event. See you there."