Training for fire and ambulance crews in the Midlands could be hit because there are not enough people willing to act as casualties.

Emergency services rely on scores of people who turn up and daub themselves in fake blood in their role as victims of accidents.

They are a vital part of training for firefighters and paramedics as they act out real scenarios.

However fewer people are joining and union branches across the Midlands are closing.

The scarcity of volunteers is forcing emergency services to have a review of their training programmes.

One fireman told the BBC's Midlands Today programme: "Nine times out of ten when you are training for traffic accidents back at the station you are using dummies.

"By using live casualties, it gives us a greater appreciation of casualty handling, how to extricate them and how bodies move when they are unconscious.

"We have a far better appreciation of moving casualties from vehicles."

A member of the Casualties Union said: "I think every voluntary body is having difficulty in getting volunteers."