DRILLING on a controversial oil rig in Poole Bay started today.

Petroleum licence operator Corallian Energy has until February 28 to assess the level of oil in the Colter prospect.

Drilling of the Colter exploration well, using the Ensco-72, rig, started at 10.10am.

The drilling is expected to take approximately three weeks in order to reach a planned total depth of 1,830 metres.

A spokesperson for Corallian said: "Following the completion of drilling operations the well will be evaluated and permanently plugged and abandoned."

The rig, which is located some four miles from the coast of Studland and six from Bournemouth, arrived on Saturday morning.

It can be seen from the coastline in the New Forest, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole and Purbeck.

As previously reported, campaigners against the drilling unearthed the chemical permit issued by government regulator OPRED.

Save Our Shores Bournemouth says this allows “up to 6753 tons of chemicals to be discharged, including eight tons of biocide".

However, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said that the proposed chemical use and discharge "would not pose a significant environmental risk".