POLICE were out in force last Sunday night to break up a massive illegal Boxing Day rave near a remote Exmoor village estimated to have attracted about 2,000 people in hundreds of cars.

Complaints flooded into Devon and Cornwall police headquarters from residents around Brendon Common, near Lynton, complaining about noisy music and cars blocking lanes and house and farm entrances until dawn on Monday.

A police spokesman confirmed that officers had been called to a large illegal event off the B3223 road and had dispersed hundreds of revellers. No arrests were reported.

The spokesman added: "These events are illegal and will not be tolerated. These types of unregulated events are not only dangerous to those attending but cause disruption to people who live nearby.

"We urge the public to contact us at an early stage if they see any illegal gathering being planned or being set up in their community. Timely information can allow us to close down an event before it has even started."