A CARE village at Hatherleigh, currently under construction, has been put to early use by providing an ideal training environment for a team of fire fighters. The Hatherleigh Fire Service put the town's new care village development to early use by staging a training exercise on the construction site. Around 12 fire fighters attended the mock incident and used the opportunity to practice their BA search and rescue skills in smoke and darkness. Several dummy casualties were placed within the constructed building with fire fighters having to overcome obstacles and challenges in order to find the casualties and return them to safety. Station Officer, Kevin Drew, said: 'We are grateful to the operators of the new care village, PSP Healthcare and to the builders D R Jones for letting us use this opportunity to practice our skills.' The new care village is set to open this summer and in the lead up to this an open meeting was held at Aalen House nursing home in Okehampton. PSP Healthcare, which also runs Aalen House, met residents, relatives and local healthcare professionals to explain their plans for the new care village. Rooms will be en suite and feature electric profiling beds, personal TV and telephone units as well as the latest in nurse call technology. In addition the new care village will house a cinema and library. Residents will also be able to call in at the dedicated hair and beauty salon before browsing the net in a specially adapted 'silver surfers' internet café'. The care village is planned to open in late summer this year and will provide nursing and specialist dementia care. It will employ more than 60 people, including nurses, health care assistants, house keepers and chefs. The site will also house a number of close care apartments for those looking to retain their independent living, but for whom the proximity to the care home and communal facilities would be beneficial. A series of open meetings are planned across the area to keep the local community informed of progress with the development. Anyone interested in attending should make contact with project director Ann Bailey 0870 286 1313 or email [email protected]">[email protected]