SEA birds are put off feeding on the foreshore near Fawley Refinery because of poisonous chemicals, a public inquiry has been told.

Plans by Southampton Docks owner Associated British Ports for a new container terminal at Dibden Bay include pumping dredgings on to the Cadland marshes between Hythe and the huge Fawley oil refinery.

The inquiry, taking place in Southampton's Eastern Docks, heard yesterday of the efforts made by Esso ExxonMobil in recent years to clean up the shore.

Conservation expert Philip Colebourn, speaking for ABP, told the inquiry that at its own expense, Esso had carried out a major scheme to improve the situation.

Under cross-examination by barrister Graham Machin, representing English Nature, Mr Colebourn agreed with a suggestion that birds stayed away from the Cadland shore because of the contamination.

"It's not a difficult hypothesis to frame when you walked the shore and there's oil in your footprints."

ABP is arguing that if they were put on to the Cadland shore, the materials dredged up as part of the Dibden construction work would improve the health of the habitats for birdlife.

The inquiry also heard of a dredging operation which went wrong in the upper reaches of Southampton Water.

The incident happened in 1997 and Mr Colebourn told the inquiry: "It was during the channel deepening in the upper port opposite 200 berth.

The material being dredged was loosened with a rock cutter. But they over-filled the dredger and it was released back into the water. A great deal went back in and was found at Marchwood and as far up as the Lower Test nature reserve."

But he did point out that the material known geologically as greensand, also had some benefits in that it could soak up some potentially damaging contaminants.

"In that respect, it is very useful. It attracts chemical species you don't want," he said.