Milford Haven’s South Hook LNG terminal has sounded its sirens today (Friday) following a claims that the majority of residents in the public information zone (PIZ) cannot hear them.

Campaign group Safe Haven say they surveyed 185 people in the South Hook PIZ and found 82% could not hear the alarms.

More than half (52%) of residents in the zone said they did not know what to do in the event of a major LNG incident.

Spokesman for Safe Haven, Gordon Main, said: "Lack of understanding and effective planning may lead to panic, which can often be worse than the effect of the initial accident itself.

"For residents in nearby areas not to be able to hear alarms, let alone not know what to do when they do hear the alarm, is dangerous."

South Hook said safety is a ‘top priority’ and said the sirens would be tested between 10am and 1pm today.

The COMAH alarm has a distinctive intermittent tone and the all clear alarm is a single continuous tone.

A spokesman for South Hook said: "We continue to work with the relevant authorities in relation to the retest of our COMAH alarm and we communicate with all residents who reside within our public information zone and with the members of our community liaison group on the COMAH alarm testing.

"The safety of our neighbours, in the local community, remains a top priority."

Residents can hear a recording of the alarms by calling free phone from a landline on 0800 0463470. There is also a community phone line for any further enquiries on 01437 782012.