Traders taught to save lives in case of terror strike at Olympic Games

Market traders and shopkeepers in Camden Town and King's Cross will be taught life-saving first aid skills - including how to treat burns and glass and shrapnel injuries - for use in the event of a terrorist attack during the Olympics.

The Metropolitan Police and British Red Cross will run "serious incident" classes and drills, including how to assist the emergency services, in the run-up to next summer's Games. Police in Camden and Islington said that the traders would be the first on the scene after an attack.

About 200 people across the two boroughs will be trained over 12 months. Medical kits are also likely to be distributed to businesses around King's Cross, brought to a standstill when the July 7 terror bombings in 2005 killed 52 people.

Sergeant Andrew Wadeson, of Islington police, said: "In these times, where terrorism is a very real threat to the community, this will equip staff within local businesses with important skills in the event of a major incident or attack on the borough. I am pleased that we are the first boroughs in the Met to offer this service."

Doug Charles-Ridler, landlord of the Hawley Arms pub in Camden, thought the training "a really good idea".

But Stephen Key, a fruit and vegetable stallholder near Camden Town Tube station, worried about losing money during training, adding: "We should leave this stuff to the emergency services."