WAS this the work of vandals as firefighters tackled a blaze at the Billybanks on Tuesday?

For once we can safely say that it wasn't - it was actually part of a fire service training exercise.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is taking a proactive role in providing training material for its officers and other fire brigades across the UK.

Working in collaboration with the Vale of Glamorgan council and HTV Wales, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service set up a controlled fire at two derelict flats in one of the empty blocks at the Billybanks.

The intention was to film the burning rooms and produce a number of DVDs that can be used for educational purposes in schools and youth clubs and for training firefighters in their own and other brigades.

This initiative emanated from the arson reduction unit of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and came about through the willing co-operation of the Vale of Glamorgan housing directorate.

The Billybanks blocks have long been empty and are scheduled to be demolished in the near future.

The fire service works with all local authorities to promote community safety and the Vale's director of housing, James Cawley, was happy to support them in progressing the project.

One DVD will be aimed at schools to promote fire safety awareness and to alert young people to the risks involved in arson.

This will be used across the ten local authorities covered by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Another will be aimed at professional firefighters and will cover both accidental and deliberate fires.

This will be the service's contribution to the training collaboration group and will be used for training firefighters throughout the UK.

A further film will demonstrate how quickly a fire can be contained and controlled through the use of a sprinkler system.

Directing professional operations was Assistant Divisional Officer Mick Flanagan, head of fire investigation for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Support on the day of the controlled fire was provided by blue watch from Penarth Fire Station and from Central Station in Cardiff.

Arson reduction officer Des Mason, who has been involved in driving this initiative forward, said: "This is an exciting and worthwhile project that we have been thinking about for a long time.

"We are fortunate in having the support of our colleagues in the Vale of Glamorgan council.

"The Billybanks has recently featured in a film with Sean Bean and is scheduled to appear in a future episode of Doctor Who.

"Our film of the flats on fire will be seen for years to come - long after they have been demolished - and provide a valuable tool for protecting our communities."