Thousands attend illegal rave
24/08/2004
http://www.hackersons.com/databass/site/news/local/articleshow.asp?articleID=2011&categoryID=99
Thousands of people have attended an illegal rave on agricultural land in Herefordshire over the Welsh border.
Residents living in the hamlets of Upper Ivington and Hyde Ash claimed around 10,000 people were in the area, although police estimated that 3,000 people have gathered there.
Dyfed-Powys Police said there was an increased movement of traffic over the border in the direction of Leominster.
One person was taken to hospital suffering from the affects of drugs or alcohol.
‘No sleep’
Christine Rosearsh’s house in Hyde Ash is near to where the rave is taking place.
She told BBC News Online: “It started on Saturday afternoon.
“I was out in my garden and could hear bits of music and vehicles and it gradually increased throughout the night. It was a nightmare.
“I didn’t get any sleep.”
Mrs Rosearsh said she first phoned the police about 2200 BST on Saturday to complain and made two further calls – the last at 0415 BST – only to be told the police were “monitoring” the situation. She added: “When I looked out my window I was scared because I could see all these people everywhere.
“They were opening the gates to fields to get through and leaving them open. The cows were getting out.
“When I phoned the police, they said they were aware of the rave and that it was unauthorised but could not do anything about it at that time.
“We live right in the middle of the countryside and the lanes around my house are very narrow and they’re all being blocked.”
