HAMPSHIRE Fire and Rescue is urging residents not to panic ahead of a major training exercise tonight.

Around 30-40 firefighters from Southampton stations will take part in a simulated chemical incident in Hythe at around 6pm.

The service's specialist hazardous area team will be tackling a tanker spill scenario at the Geo Speciality Chemicals site in Charleston Road, Hardley, near Hythe.

A fire service spokesman said it was a multi-agency operation and there would be up to eight emergency vehicles at the scene.

He said: “We are asking people not to panic if they see our vehicles rushing through the area. Given that Fawley Refinery is down that way we don't want people getting the wrong idea.

“The event should kick off around 6pm and will end by 10pm at the latest and most of it will be contained to the secure site, which we have permission to use from the site owner and the company itself.”