FROM the most high-tech drones to the millennia-old bond between man and dog, there was something for everyone to enjoy at the annual Emergency Services Fun Day.

Held at King's Park, and now in its fifth year, the event brought together personnel and their cutting edge equipment from Dorset Police, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, the South Western Ambulance Service and many other groups and institutions.

The centre-piece of the event was a joint services demonstration showing how the various bodies work together during a car crash to make the area safe and give casualties the best chance of making a full recovery.

Inspector Claire Phillips of Dorset Police, part of the event's joint planning team, said it was a great opportunity for officers to meet informally with residents and show their capabilities.

"It is a fun, family event where we can show the public how we work and talk to them in a less confrontational setting," she said.

"It is also about reassurance, showing the assets we have got and how we can protect the community, hence all the live demonstrations.

"We also get people saying it is nice to have the opportunity to say thank you, which is nice for our staff.

"We still have to do operational policing so many people have to swap their rest days to come and do this."

Among the new features this year was a Crime Scene Investigation tent, showing some of the techniques used to search for evidence, and aimed at encouraging youngsters to look into forensics as a career.

There were police drone demonstrations, a visit from the NPAS police helicopter, numerous fire service vehicles including the aerial ladder platform and an airport fire truck, a police coastal patrol RIB and a chance to try out riot shields – albeit at the risk of taking a wet sponge to the face.

Visitors were shown how to put out a chip pan fire and given a display by the police dog team.

Officers were on hand from the Air Ambulance, volunteers from the Dorset Search and Rescue group, and police from the No Excuses team, armed unit and traffic unit, explaining what they do.