A RAVE which attracted hundreds of people has been broken up by Wiltshire Police with several arrests made and officers and members of the public needing medical attention.

Wiltshire Police are asking the public to avoid the River Ray industrial estate this morning due to the violent disorder which took place throughout the night.

At around 1am police were notified of around 15 cars gathering in the River Ray Industrial Estate, Barnfield Road, Rodbourne, Swindon.

Around one hundred people appeared to be heading for an empty Unit on the industrial estate for an illegal rave.

Officers put cordons around the area to turn revellers away but the crowds soon turned violent and by 3am police officers were having things thrown at them.

Backup from a dog unit and a helicopter were called in and several hundred people amassed trying to get to the rave.

A man, aged 20, from Dunstable was arrested for disorder and another man was injured after being bitten by a police dog. The Ambulance Service was called to the scene.

At approximately 6am, two officers sustained injuries after being hit by missiles thrown by the ravers.

One officer was hit in the head and arm by a brick and the other officer had a head injury after being hit.

Two further officers were also injured, including a dog handler and were treated at the scene.

Four people were arrested for public order offences and one for assaulting a police officer. A member of the public also sustained a head injury.

Superintendent Andrew Carr said: “It is our job to keep the public safe and disperse people from this location.

“This rave was illegal and therefore there are no guarantees that location is safe or that the amount of people who attend are properly managed.

“We advise the public to avoid the area as we continue to have cordons around this event.
 
“It is very disappointing that members of the public became hostile to officers and began to throw missiles and damage fences and property. Sadly, four officers have been injured and there were other minor injuries. A total of five people have been arrested.

“This incident has caused disruption to local people and we will be remaining on scene until the public are fully dispersed and this matter is resolved.”