A child puts a comforting arm on a friend lying motionless while bodies lay strewn on the ground behind them at a 'train crash' made to look as realistic possible.

These powerful images were captured at a training exercise for the emergency services in the late 1960s.

The extraordinary photos were taken by a Watford Observer photographer on February 26, 1968 during a mock rail accident staged at what was then called Bushey & Oxhey Station.

Watford Observer: A child comforts his motionless friend following the 'accident'A child comforts his motionless friend following the 'accident' (Image: Watford Observer)

Take a look through these pictures showing the apparent aftermath of a collision between a goods train and a passenger service as fire, police and medical personnel work through the wreckage to try and help those ‘victims’ who have ‘survived’ in scenes that were made to look as realistic as possible.

Watford Observer: A fireman carries a young 'victim' away from the wreckageA fireman carries a young 'victim' away from the wreckage (Image: Watford Observer)

 

Watford Observer: A scene of devastationA scene of devastation (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: A 'casualty' is carefully lifted out of a carriageA 'casualty' is carefully lifted out of a carriage (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: A 'victim' is carried up an embankmentA 'victim' is carried up an embankment (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: Some of the passengers could not be helpedSome of the passengers could not be helped (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: This 'casualty' has suffered a painful hand injuryThis 'casualty' has suffered a painful hand injury (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: A passenger is stretchered from the train by medical personnelA passenger is stretchered from the train by medical personnel (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: Two walking woundedTwo walking wounded (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: A helping handA helping hand (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: An ad hoc medical centre was set up following the 'accident'An ad hoc medical centre was set up following the 'accident' (Image: Watford Observer)