BOLTON Mountain Rescue team took part in a training exercise with the new North-west air ambulance in Lever Park, Rivington.
The new EC135 helicopter was bought after a generous benefactor gave £500,000 to the air ambulance charity.
Operating from Blackpool's Squires Gate airport, it will provide a faster and more efficient service for Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Cumbria.
A total of 28 members of the mountain rescue team turned out to familiarise themselves with the helicopter and its new techonolgy. The Greater Manchester Police Air Support Units helicopter, also landed.
To bystanders, it would have looked like a major operation was unfolding.
Team Leader, Garry Rhodes, said: "It was an operational first - having both the air ambulance and the police helicopter together on the ground.
"It gave the respective air crews a little bit of friendly rivalry to compare their different helicopters and our team members a chance to closely inspect the essential differences between the two types."
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