FAWLEY Refinery has paid for cars to be professionally cleaned after they were contaminated by soot.

People living near the huge petro-chemical works complained to the Environment Agency after noticing black deposits on their vehicles.

An Environment Agency spokesman said soot at the top of the refinery chimneys could have broken loose in cleaning.

He added: “The refinery has arranged for cars to be professionally cleaned, which we feel is a proportionate response.”

ExxonMobil, which runs the 1,250-acre refinery, said only two residents had complained.

A spokesman said: “We apologised and offered to pay for their vehicles to be cleaned.

“One of the residents also claimed there were marks on his house but samples taken from window ledges showed the deposits were the result of a normal build-up of dust.

“We have spoken to the Environment Agency about how we are following up the complaints and they are satisfied with our actions.”