The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service says it received a number of calls from members of the public, on Tuesday night, as flares from the ExxonMobil Fawley refinery lit up the sky, for miles around.

On the Isle of Wight, a huge orange glow could be seen as far as Gurnard.

Three large flames flared above chimneys at the site, which sits at the mouth of Southampton water, on the Hampshire coast.

The operator said ExxonMobil Fawley was dealing with an 'operational incident'.

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Isle of Wight County Press: Flares at Fawley, on November 8, 2022.Flares at Fawley, on November 8, 2022. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press.)

It later added the site’s emergency response teams had been working to address the situation and isolate an affected unit.

For those living nearby, there was a warning that alarm sirens might be heard. Residents were assured it was part of the operation.

A spokesperson for the fire service says its crews were not required to attend last night, but we were informed by ExxonMobil of the ongoing flaring. 

It investigated calls from the public but found them to be false alarms, caused by the orange glow from the flaring. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Orange sky, see from East Cowes, caused by Fawley flares on Nov 8, 2022.Orange sky, see from East Cowes, caused by Fawley flares on Nov 8, 2022. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press.)