OIL giant Esso revealed last night that it is involved in a race against time as it bids to solve a noise problem at Fawley Refinery, which has already cost millions and could cost millions more.

A stormy public meeting at Fawley's Jubilee Hall heard that it is working on new ways of cutting back the almighty blasts of noise from its £70m catalytic cracker, which came on stream two years ago.

It also heard that if new problem-solving methods are not successful, Esso could find itself in court and facing prosecution for failing to obey New Forest Council's noise abatement notice.

Initial moves to stem a flow of complaints from neighbouring residents involved the building of a £2m silencer, which didn't work.

But refinery manager Tom Katinas and technical manager Peter Emery explained last night that modifications were about to take place on the cracker's chimney, which experts believed would do the trick.

It involves the installation of new equipment and the removal of a valve. After hearing from angry residents that the noise was so bad residents were unable to use their gardens, Mr Katinas said: "We have a lot of confidence in this and we believe you will be able to use your gardens again."

He was implored by parish councillor Alexis McEvoy to shut the plant down possibly twice a month, just to let residents get a night's sleep.

Mr Katinas said: "If I came and said I had no hope of a solution, I would have to consider shutting it down permanently. But we do have something that we believe is going to work."

Village resident Colin Harris claimed things were so bad his cat slept with its paws over its ears, others that they could not hear their televisions properly and others that the low-pitched jet-type sound from the cracker was so strong their double and triple glazing had no effect on it.

There were complaints, too, that the noise carried as far as Beaulieu and there were repeated calls for New Forest District Council to come down hard on Esso.

But environmental protection officer Edward Van Dyke did give an assurance that a noise abatement notice served over a year ago was still in effect, but was being held in abeyance while Esso tried to use the best practical means to overcome the problem.

If the next piece of work on the cracker failed and the noise continued, he said, Esso could be taken to court for breaching the notice.

A successful prosecution could mean a maximum fine of £20,000 plus up to £2,000 per day for every day the notice continued to be breached.

"It is going to take until April and if the work fails, we will be in a new situation where we will have to look at it again," he said.

He also mentioned the possibility of an injunction against the noise which, if obtained, could mean the shutting down of the cracker and the whole refining process.