RESIDENTS by the Thames in Grays have been reassured after hearing sirens sounded earlier this week.

A number of residents contacted Nub News after hearing the sirens twice on Monday and feared it was a flood warning.

However, though it took a couple of days to track down the source, it has been confirmed that the siren is an internal alarm at the Navigator storage terminal at West Thurrock, which was formerly the Vopak site.

A statement from Navigator Terminals says: "We can confirm that the alarm sounded on Monday morning did come from the Thurrock facility.

"Navigator fully acknowledge the responsibility placed upon us to operate and maintain our terminals in a safe and sustainable manner.

"Our terminals are largely automated and the alarms system form part of an internal process undertaken when a truck driver or operator requires assistance. As soon as the alarm sounds the terminal investigate before operations resume.

"This is a standard terminal process which is widely adopted within the industry and local area.

"The alarms are tested at 11am every Thursday at the Thurrock facility."