Exmoor: Arrest after two illegal raves in national park

Boxes of nitrous dioxide canisters near the site of the rave

Handout Boxes of nitrous dioxide canisters near the site of the rave — Boxes of nitrous dioxide canisters near the site of the rave

A man in his 30s has been arrested following two illegal raves over the weekend.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the man, from Wiltshire, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a class A drug and assaulting an emergency worker on Sunday.

Officers were called to the raves, which hundreds of people attended, at 5:20 GMT on Exmoor on Sunday.

The force added that the man has since been released on bail.

The unlicensed music events took place a short distance from each other, near Luxborough, at Dunkery Beacon and Kennisham Wood.

Pictures sent to the BBC show cars parked on both sides of the B3224, and boxes of nitrous oxide canisters and rubbish scattered across the verges.

Cars are parked on both sides of the B3224

Handout Cars parked on a countryside road — Cars are parked on both sides of the B3224

Sam, who is a farmer in the Luxborough area, said people were "defecating" on his fields and outside his house.

Officers seized sound equipment from the Dunkery Beacon event and inquiries are ongoing into potential public nuisance offences.

Those that stayed at Kennisham Wood were clearing up the site on 1 April, a police spokesperson said.

'Helpless'

Sam told BBC Radio Somerset the fields where revellers "defecated" are for young livestock to graze.

"The issue was the amount of people and the lack of respect and care," he said.

"The aftermath this morning is unbelievable. The road's verges are all cut up, there are drugs, bottles, boxes and rubbish everywhere. Chucked on the roads and our fields.

"We could not do anything about it."

A farmer says the aftermath is "unbelievable"

Handout Rubbish scattered across a road verge — A farmer says the aftermath is "unbelievable"

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "Our priority has been to preserve public safety and minimise disruption to other members of the public and as such our officers sought to engage with individuals attending the events and provide community reassurance.

"Road closures were also put in place."