POLICE have been praised for foiling an illegal rave on the top of Roundway Hill, near Devizes, in the early hours of Sunday.

Officers arrived at the popular beauty spot within minutes of revellers, who had already started setting up stereo systems and amplifiers.

Forty people, who told the police they were all from the Bristol area, and who ranged in age from late teens to early thirties, were told to pack up their music equipment and leave. They complied without complaint.

But as the police left Roundway Hill they also stopped six further vehicles which contained more revellers destined for the rave. They were also turned away.

The police believe the rave would have attracted hundreds of revellers and could have been similar to the illegal rave in Savernake Forest, near Marlborough, in May, which attracted 800 people and went on for nearly 48 hours. Then police were inundated with complaints of noise.

Sgt Matt Jones, of Devizes police, who went to Roundway Hill with five other officers, said: "When I arrived just after 12.30am there were two large vehicles and approximately 40 people in the process of setting up the sound equipment.

"There were two pieces of equipment located 80 yards apart and one of the them was covered in camouflage netting.

"The people were asked what their intentions were. They were asked to leave when they told us they planned to hold a rave. We told them it was not the area to organise such an event.

"The people concerned were very friendly and personable and were happy to leave following our request.

"They were disappointed to be turned back but they accepted the rave wasn't going to be taking place there."

"We got there in time to nip it in the bud but there was potential for a large gathering of people.

"Raves tend to get established around 2am or 3am.

"When we arrived there was a small group of people and we stopped more people on the way back.

"I have no doubt that a lot more people would have turned up."

The police were alerted to the rave by a member of the public who called them after seeing two large vehicles driving up Roundway Hill.

Sgt Jones said: "We were lucky that we were alerted to the rave so quickly by the member of the public and as a result we were able to respond and deal with it positively."

Arable farmer Chris Combe, whose farm borders Roundway Hill, was pleased to hear of the action taken by the police.

He said he remembered two illegal raves held on Roundway Hill more than ten years ago.

During one of them a woman was injured when a reveller's vehicle drove over her while she was camping in a field containing a crop of linseed.

Mr Combe said: "My main fear would have been the potential for a fire breaking out at the top of the hill as it has been very dry and hot recently.

"It wouldn't take a lot for someone to drop a match in a field of stubble.

"I can understand why people would want to hold a rave on top of the hill as it has gorgeous views, but it is not the right place."

Roundway villager and former magistrate, Sarah Phillips, said: "I'm very glad the police stopped it.

"The noise would have carried over a long distance and it would have caused disturbance to a number of people.

"One doesn't want to be a killjoy but there are landowners who will agree to have raves on their land.

"People who want to hold raves do not need to resort to breaking the law."

Viv Alexander, the chairman of Roundway Parish Council, said: "The police are to be congratulated on their prompt actions in stopping this illegal rave."