AN EXERCISE to test responses to a hypothetical oil spill at sea will mean activity on Newhaven beach on Wednesday, September 25.

People near the beach may see equipment and response workers near the lifeguard hut throughout the day.

The incident is to test how partners organisations across Sussex (including emergency services, coastguard, local councils and environmental agencies) would react in the event of a coastal oil spill from a wrecked ship.

It is part of a regular partnership working by the organisations, as part of the Sussex Resilience Forum, to prepare for, and manage, incidents in the county.

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