POLICE were maintaining a presence at a rave event taking place on hills above Minehead which went on through Boxing Day night into Saturday (December 27).

The unlicensed music event drew hundreds of mainly young people to North Hill, on the edge of Exmoor National Park.

It appeared to be centred on the site of a former World War Two radar station and tank training ground, the radar designed to detect approaching German aircraft, and the training area used by Churchill and Sherman tank crews.

The narrow roads in the area were blocked by cars and other vehicles left by the ravers and local residents spoke of being kept awake all night by the noise, which could be heard across a wide area of the town.

People expressed concerns about hygiene with no public toilets available in the area, and the amount of litter being left by those attending the event.

Although police were said to be trying to ensure public roads were safe, they appeared not to have taken any action to stop the event.

In September, a similar rave near Triscombe Stone, a remote part of the Quantock Hills, was broken up by police who dispersed the hundreds of attendees in the early hours of the morning.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary has been approached for comment on the North Hill rave.

Police advice is generally to ask anybody who sees signs of an unlicensed music event about to happen to report it as early as possible by calling 101 and providing as much information as they can so officers can take action.