POLICE spent the best part of Sunday morning clearing up the aftermath of an illegal rave after it escalated into unprecedented levels of violence.

Around 70 officers from Wiltshire Police, 26 officers from Avon and Somerset Police – including five dog handlers - and officers from Thames Valley Police were all involved in the incident.

Forces were first made aware of the incident at around 1am after reports of an increase in traffic at the River Ray Industrial Estate near Bruce Street Bridges.

Around 300 people attempted to attend the rave at an empty unit.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Police in riot gear escorted some of the straggling ravers away form the site.  Around 100 people aged between 16 and 46 were rumoured to be at the party.

A further 200 people later tried to gain access to the site and break through police blockades.

It is not yet known whether any drugs were recovered from the scene.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Police confiscated a quanitity of sound equipment and other items, although it's not yet known if any illegal substances were also discovered.

VIDEO: police confiscate goods from unit in River Ray Industrial Estate

 

Four officers were injured in the fracas after bottles, stones and slabs of concrete were hurled at them while one member of the publice sustained a head injury and two or three were taken to the Great Western Hospital after they were bitten by police dogs.

A 20-year-old man from Dunstable was arrested for public order offences, but was later released, while a 22-year-old man from Suffolk remains in custody at Gablecross police station after being arrested for violent disorder.  

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Four men and a woman were arrested following an illegal rave in Barnfield Close.

A 20-year-old woman from Norwich and a 21-year-old man from Kettering were also arrested and remain in custody for violent disorder.  A 34-year-old man from Cambridgeshire was also arrested for violent disorder and assault of a police officer and remains in custody.

Police managed to clear the majority of people from the site by around 11am.

VIDEO: Ravers leaving scene at 9.30am 

 

In the frosty morning sunlight at around 9am, police re-directed members of the public away from Barnfield Close. 

Several dog walkers and joggers were prevented from taking their usual routes, while workers at the Thames Water and Thamesdown Transport depots were delayed in their morning duties.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

The roads were finally re-opened at around 12pm, and police will continue to investigate the extent of the incident. 

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

 

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: