Rave organisers were today warned by police to forget about setting up illegal parties - or face the consequences.

Insp Andy Parkman told how such events would not be tolerated at "inappropriate venues" and said arrests would be made.

The warning comes after a gang of six were caught red-handed by police setting up an illegal bash on the Brooke Road industrial estate near Rayleigh Weir.

Insp Parkman said: "As a result of information we received police attended an industrial premises on the border of Castle Point and Rochford.

"We found a number of young people there who had gained access as trespassers.

"These lads were in the process of setting the place up for a rave later that evening, but we nipped it in the bud before it got started."

"If this party had taken place a number of residents would have suffered extreme inconvenience and annoyance until the early hours of the morning."

A 22-year-old man was arrested and bailed on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance as a result of the police raid on Saturday at around 6.30pm.

Published Thursday October 17, 2002

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