Hundreds attend illegal NYE rave near Bristol - police issue statement

Up to 200 people attended a New Year’s Eve rave near Bristol. In the early hours of this morning, Avon and Somerset Police said officers were responding to a rave taking place at Rowberrow Warren near Winscombe at about 1am.

The force ordered people to leave and closed surrounding roads to stop others joining. At the time, the force said around 100 people were at the event in Rowberrow Woods, which is owned by Forestry England.

One generator was shut down and the music was turned off by the organisers by 7.30am, police said in an update issued at 8.30am. Locals were also warned of disruption as people left the site.

The statement said: “Officers remain at the site of a rave at Rowberrow Woods near Winscombe. Police were alerted to the event at about 12.25am on New Year’s Day.

“Officers were there by about 1am and found up to 200 people had gathered. One generator was shut down and officers prevented further access to the site.

“The music was turned off by the organisers by 7.30am and officers are directing people to leave the site in accordance with a direction under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994.

“We continue to ask people to avoid the area as there is congestion on local routes due to an estimated 150 vehicles trying to leave, with several having parked blocking lanes.”

An hour later, traffic appeared to be flowing on nearby roads. There has been no indication of any arrests.

The event comes exactly two months after a similar event near Winterbourne in north Bristol. Between 400 and 500 people attended the event in Old Gloucester Road, which ended after 8am.