Oil refinery in 'intruder' alert

The site was currently searched by teams of police officers

Police have searched the site of the Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire after receiving reports of an intruder.

Officers were called to the Shell site in Ellesmere Port just after midday after a "suspicious individual" was seen entering the site.

Police said there was no danger to the public but closed nearby roads while they combed the plant.

The search was concluded about three hours later and officers said that nothing untoward was found.

A member of the public who raised the alarm said the man was carrying a backpack.

Cheshire Police were searched the property along with security staff from Shell UK, which owns the site.

The armed response team and the police helicopter also aided the hunt for the mystery "intruder".

Hazardous chemicals

Stanlow was the scene of many of the protests which sparked the national fuel blockade in September 2000.

Since then security at the 173-acre site has been stepped up with access to entrances restricted to traffic.

The hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing at Stanlow also means it is subject to stringent health and safety restrictions.