CITY port staff were thrust into action today during a live training drill.

The drill simulated a ferry colliding with a tanker just off Fawley Oil Refinery - spilling oil into Southampton Water.

Oranges were thrown into the sea to represent the oil that would be in the water.

Captain Phil Buckley, Harbour Master, said: "The purpose is to test our contingency plan.

"The likelyhood of something like this happening is very small, but if it did happen the concequences can be significant.

"We get to work together with a number of operators in the region and the emergency services and we get to know each other in case it were to happen."

He added: "We are very proud of our environment record.

It has been a couple of years since we last had a drill.

"We need to make sure the drill is demanding enough, but not too much so we don't need a bigger response."

Southampton water sees 160,000 vessels pass through each year.