DRILLING for oil could begin in Hedge End within months, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Oil giant Northern Petroleum has applied for permission to set up an exploratory drilling well on farmland off Woodhouse Lane in Hedge End.

If Hampshire County Council approves the plan, a 36-metre mast and drilling rig could soon be in place so that oilmen can test the black gold that was first discovered in 1988.

It is thought they could find anything up to 125 million barrels of oil beneath the ground.

The company is looking to drill up to three wells at the site in an operation that could last three years.

A spokesman for Northern Petroleum said: "We hope to get started as soon as we can, provided the application is successful."

"It's likely to be within months rather than years but we can't give an exact timescale."

The proposed site off Woodhouse Lane lies near a woodland area at Bushy Copse, which is currently owned by Hampshire County Council.

Northern Petroleum believes that the drilling will be far enough away from the nearest homes and Berrywood Primary School so as not to cause a disturbance.

Hampshire County Council is consulting Eastleigh Borough Council and parish authorities over the plans before making a decision by the end of next month.

However, Botley Parish Council chairman Colin Mercer said people were already concerned about the plans. He said: "I only heard about the plans 24 hours ago and I am already receiving e-mails and calls from residents expressing concern."