CONCERNS have been raised about a large plume of natural gas spotted 'venting' into the Purbeck countryside.

Ian Andrews from Dorchester was walking on Middlebere Heath when he saw the 'large hazey plume' coming from the Wytch Farm oil gathering station at the weekend.

He raised issue with the activity as gas prices are 'going through the roof' putting pressure on household energy bills.

Mr Andrews, 63, said: "Through binoculars, I could see the haze coming up above the trees and moving very quickly.

"I thought it might be heat haze from a fire, or a large generator, but there was no smoke, or any signs of diesel fumes.

"It was natural gas and by the speed at which it was spouting up above the trees, it was under some considerable pressure."

Mr Andrews raised his concern to the Environment Agency (EA), which told him the plume was natural gas, and that Wytch Farm had a licence to 'vent' it under certain circumstances and that no rules were being broken, as they have no means for its storage.

He added: "So, in a time when the UK gas prices are going through the roof; when Russia, who supply most of our gas have gone fruit-loop and when methane is acknowledged as being 25 times worse that carbon dioxide to our atmosphere from a global warming point of view, we have a company losing millions of litres of gas to the atmosphere.

"It really was quite shocking to seeing this plume from half a mile away with the naked eye, initially seen through binoculars.

"I could see it moving very fast; upwards initially and then across the tops of the trees as it was caught in the breeze. It could still be seen about a quarter of a mile downwind towards Corfe.

"My reaction to the EA call was just stunned really."

A spokesman from the EA said: "The Environment Agency is aware that a heat haze is visible at Wytch Farm near Wareham, while Perenco UK Ltd carries out routine maintenance.

"In line with health and safety measures, the gas produced during this work is being diverted to flares, where it is combusted to reduce the environmental impact.

"It's likely that a heat haze will be visible from the flare stacks during this activity.

"This is in accordance with their environmental permit."

The EA said the works were expected to be completed yesterday (March 7).

Perenco have been contacted for comment.