M96 is dubbed the secret motorway that saves lives

The M96, positioned 20 miles from the M5 and the M50, has remained a well-hidden secret for years that saves countless lives.

The 400-metre-long stretch of road in Moreton-in-Marsh has seen more crashes and traffic incidents than major routes because of its special purpose of training blue light workers.

Dubbed a ‘mock motorway’, the stretch is banned from public use to allow emergency services to practice dealing with major motorway incidents.

It is located at the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh and welcomes 999 services across England.

Services like West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service have all used the M96 for their training.

Horrific crashes are simulated to help prepare emergency services for the worst-case scenario.

Some simulations involve multi-vehicle pile-ups with lorries, cars and buses, and volunteers play the part of motorists and pedestrians caught up in the fake crashes.