New Year 'rave' hits Little Dunham barn
A MASSIVE clean-up is under way after 800 revellers descended on a barn on New Year's Eve leaving piles of rubbish, excrement, needles, laughing gas canisters and discarded condoms in their wake.
Van loads of police and a police helicopter went to the farm in Little Dunham, but could not stop partygoers raving on until 4pm New Year's Day.
Infuriated farmer Jeremy Mason, who had no option but to look on as his 300-year-old barn and surrounding land was taken over, is calling for policy makers to take action to give officers the resources to break up events, saying it will not be long before a strung-out farmer snaps and hurts someone.
Mr Mason said: "It's absolutely horrendous and makes you feel you are not safe in your own home.
"It's frightening being surrounded by 20 or 30 of these dreadlocked, blasted-out-of-their-heads idiots."
Mr Mason had installed barriers on private roads leading to the targeted barn – usually a quiet roost for owls – after previous raves on his land, but got a call at 10pm on New Year's Eve to say streams of vehicles were heading to the buildings, within yards of eight workers' cottages and a mile of his own home.
Burger vans were among the 200 to 300 vehicles Mr Mason said finally congregated on his land as revellers danced on 60ft high barn roofs.
The event followed the front page warning in Friday's Lynn News that rave organisers were targeting West Norfolk after an event at West Dereham village hall.
Ravers have posted videos of it in full swing on website You Tube. Mr Mason said: "They pulled my barriers up out of the ground and disturbed the whole farm.
"There were people smashed out of their heads wandering around my turkey units like zombies.
"I've now got rubbish and human waste all over my site which still holds 2,000 tonnes of cereals."
A police spokesman said the force had limited powers because the event did not fit the criteria to be labelled a rave, defined in law as an open-air event causing serious distress to locals. Only one arrest was made – of a woman for a public order offence.
Chief Supt Bob Scully said evidence is being reviewed with a view to taking action against the organisers.
He added: "It is sad that through the selfish behaviour of people avoiding the licensing system and the proper safety and environmental controls, disruption and damage has been caused to the environment, the local farm business and residents."
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
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