"Flare-like lights" are set to illuminate the skies off the south Essex coast as part of unusual military activity next week.
QinetiQ is due to carry out activity at the MOD Shoebury Range on Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5, which could create an unusual spectacle visible in the vicinity of the Thames Estuary.
The work will involve airborne munitions known as illuminating rounds, which are designed to light up large areas.
Members of the public could therefore see objects resembling marine distress signals or flares in the sky up to 3km out to sea.
An unusual activity alert has been issued by Crouch Harbour Authority ahead of the work so residents know what they may be seeing.
QinetiQ said: “The activities involve the use of airborne munitions which are designed to illuminate large areas.
“Members of the public may observe objects similar to marine distress signals/flares in the sky up to 3km out to sea.”
QinetiQ is a British defence and security technology company which provides research, testing, evaluation and training services.
It operates MOD Shoebury Range on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, with the site used for testing and evaluating weapons, ammunition and other military equipment.
The range covers a significant area around Shoeburyness and out into the Thames Estuary, meaning some of its activities can be seen or heard from surrounding communities.
Similar bright lights were due to be visible around the Thames Estuary during activity at the range between October 26 and 29.
During that activity, residents were also warned they could see bright lights resembling distress flares from the shoreline and over the estuary.
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Essex Police reassured residents at the time that the lights were not distress flares and posed no danger to the public. Police Community Support Officers were also due to patrol the area to answer questions from concerned residents.
QinetiQ has previously explained that it cannot predict exactly where its activities will be noticed, or to what degree, because conditions can affect their visibility.
Range schedules can also change at short notice due to factors including weather, tides and operational requirements.
Despite the potentially alarming appearance of the illuminating rounds, QinetiQ has stressed the planned work poses no danger to the public and said range activities are carried out in a “strictly controlled environment”.
The activity is also dependent on suitable weather, meaning the planned dates could change.
Anyone concerned about activity at the range can contact QinetiQ’s freephone Careline on 0800 056 0108 or email qqshbenquiries@QinetiQ.com.
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