One arrest has been made and vehicles, a generator and other equipment seized after police dispersed an all-night illegal rave attended by 3,000 people near Bath.
Avon and Somerset Police said that the first reports of the unlicensed music event were made around 11.20pm on Saturday, but it was not shut down until after 4pm the following afternoon.
After officers arrived at the former Charmy Down airfield, in Upper Swainswick, they immediately summoned back up due to the overwhelming numbers.
Dedicated patrols on duty to respond to unlicensed music events were redeployed to the incident and the approach roads closed.
The music was eventually turned off by 1pm on Sunday at the former Charmy Down airfield, in Upper Swainswick and the majority of the site closed by 4pm, police said. But officers then had to deal with a group trying to continue the event in a neighbouring field, it added.
Police move partygoers on from an illegal rave near Bath that started on Saturday and went all through the night
The scene in Charmy Down this morning, hours after the illegal rave started three miles from the city of Bath
Thousands packed into the field close to bath to attend the illegal rave as Britain battles coronavirus
But the force said people were abandoning their vehicles and walking to the site, and it was still turning people away after dawn on Sunday.
Avon and Somerset Police said the risks to public safety of closing an event attended by more than 3,000 people in dark and wet conditions were too great with resources already dealing with other ‘significant incidents’ across the force area, including 120 999 calls.
The music was eventually turned off by 1pm on Sunday and the majority of the site closed by 4pm, police said.
But officers then had to deal with a group trying to continue the event in a neighbouring field, it added.
One person was arrested for failing to comply with a notice to quit the land and five vehicles, a generator and other equipment seized, police said.
An investigation is under way to identify and take appropriate action against those responsible for the event.
Officers escort party-goers from a field on Saturday afternoon after more than half a day of raving
An investigation is under way to identify and take appropriate action against those responsible for the event (pictured: police moving revellers on today)
Police vans arrive to move on the remaining revellers following more than 15 hours of raving in a field outside Bath
Angry residents took to social media to express their fury at the illegal gathering.
Just after 12.30pm on Sunday, one wrote: ‘Cars and people still turning up to the rave at Charmydown police are just watching them go in.
‘Please do something the music has been blasting since midnight!’
A second said: ‘Is there a rave going on in Bath? Ridiculously loud bassline carrying across the city, apparently it’s been going on since 5am at least. It’s Sunday morning.’
While a third asked: ‘How can it be illegal, condemned by the police and yet… still growing on?’
Tanya Rich, who lives in Weston in Bath, said the music from the rave, held close to the A46, woke her up at 5am.
Huge crowds ignored social distancing rules to descend on a beauty spot near Bath, Somerset, overnight. Pictured is the rave still going on this afternoon
Police officers blocked off the approach to the field, though revellers simply parked their cars and walked to the rave instead
Footage taken this afternoon shows a huge line of cars parked near the field where the rave is taking place
She told the BBC: ‘I heard this thumping sound. I thought someone had their car stereo on loud and it would stop, but it kept going
‘I went on my local Facebook group and everyone was talking about it and complaining.
‘It’s so loud. You couldn’t have a window open.’
Another local said: ‘Residents woke up to loud, thumping music around 5am, didn’t know what it was. Usually the only sound in Bath on a Sunday morning is church bells. Swainswick valley is a stunning beauty sport, popular with walkers.
‘A beautiful little hamlet nestled just behind the hills of Lansdown in the valley, a bit like the Sound of Music.’
Though the gathering began late last night, locals reported that it was still growing around lunchtime today.
Police confirmed that officers have closed off the approach to the area, though revellers are just abandoning their cars and walking to the rave.
Angry residents took to social media to express their horror and fury at the illegal gathering
Though the gathering began late last night, locals reported that it was still growing around lunchtime today
Chief Superintendent Ian Wylie said that the impact of the rave was felt by other emergency services, with around eight 999 calls to the ambulance service linked to the event.
He added: ‘We’re sorry for the disruption caused to so many residents. It’s frustrating that we are having to pull officers away from our 999 response to deal with the selfish actions of the organisers of this event and those attending it.
‘They knew full well the disruption this would cause and the ongoing risk to public health of large gatherings due to Covid-19.
‘We brought officers in from their rest days and called on support from neighbouring forces to close down this event.’