by Eric Simpson BBC News Online, East Midlands

The region's largest hospital has two decontamination units

The resulting evacuation saw 1,500 young people moved from a campground to secure accommodation.

But for emergency officials, it was effectively a "wet" dry run.

"We coordinated our efforts very successfully," said Rob Fisher, head of emergency planning for Nottinghamshire County Council.

SITUATION AROUND THE UK

The youngsters got blankets, hot food and a place to sleep in a coordinated effort by emergency services, the Environment Agency and local authorities.

"Overall we have well-established emergency plans designed to cope with emergencies, and they are good plans and have been shown to be good in real incidents, " he said.

But the spectre of a more lethal attack worries the people in charge at the East Midlands' largest hospital - the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

We could only handle one or two injured an hour - it slows us down to a crawl Jonathan Lofthouse Queen's Medical Centre

Jonathan Lofthouse, the QMC's head of emergency planning and a highly-trained silver-level commander in times of a serious attack, says the size of any attack would determine how well the hospital could cope.

"We would not be able to cope with more than 500 to 600 people - if more than that are involved we are in trouble."

The hospital has two decontamination units and can treat about 25 patients an hour.

The victims would be isolated and decontaminated in a special walk-through drench shower.

East Midlands Region East Midlands Ambulance - 6 decon units and 150 suits Lincolnshire Ambulance - 4 decon units and 100 suits Queen's Medical Centre - 14 protective suits Leics Fire Service - 492 full-time fire officers and 19 frontline pumps Leics Fire Service - 82 gas-tight suits with another 48 on an incidence response unit

But Mr Lofthouse said the hospital does have a joint protection plan with the fire and police services - one of the few in the country that is already up and running.

"We are one of the few hospitals with lock-down system that prevents people from entering the premises - it forces patients to enter only by one route and people are decontaminated before they enter."

But he said in the case of a nuclear attack, the hospital would be seriously compromised.

"We could only handle one or two injured an hour - it slows us down to a crawl because the procedure for dealing with them is so different," he said.

Volunteer reserve

But he insisted the hospital does have a high level of preparedness for emergencies and has practices on a regular basis, including four full-scale drills in 2004 with a multi-agency chemical spill exercise in February.

Nottinghamshire Police and the Government Office for the East Midlands would not comment on the exact level of preparedness for a dirty bomb attack in the region.

MP Patrick Mercer, Tory shadow critic for Homeland Security, says there are a few obvious targets for terrorists.

The region's airport has plans for an emergency exercise in November

"The transport infrastructure, including the Nottingham East Midlands Airport and the rail system, might be vulnerable as well as RAF bases in Lincolnshire.

But he added: "I don't think we are any better or worse protected than any other region in the country.

The Newark MP pointed out the need for more public awareness and a special volunteer reserve that could be called into action at short notice.

"The current system needs to be backed up by public training - firms need to be trained in contamination and nuclear attacks.

"We need a volunteer reserve - HGV drivers, surgeons, hazardous materials experts - volunteers who can quickly be contacted and can be mobilised to assist when the emergency services are overwhelmed."

Nottingham East Midlands Airport spokesman Ryan Martinez said his operation was prepared: "Our procedures and processes are under constant review, undergoing regular checks and evaluations.

"In November we will be performing an annual exercise at the airport which involves all sectors of the emergency services and key personnel."