Pictures from an enormous rave that saw 1,000 illegally gather at a Welsh industrial estate show revellers climbing on speakers, dancing with black eyes and dressed up as Vikings before police eventually shut it down.
The event – which saw four hospitalised- was organised by free rave movement Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR) and saw hordes of people descend on the Kenfig industrial estate late on Saturday evening.
Videos from the event showed ravers dancing throughout the early hours of Sunday morning as local police battled to shut down the music and disperse the huge crowds.
Locals living in nearby Kenfig and Bridgend say that they were unaware of the secret planned event until they heard the ‘thumping music all night’ and noticed ‘over 70 cars’ clogging up the local road network.
Sharing a video of the crowds during his Sunday morning run, one local man said the scenes were reminiscent of a ‘punk’ event.
Hundreds of revellers descended on a small industrial estate in Wales this weekend
Some turned up dressed as Vikings for the Egg Tech Easter rave event
Police scrambled to the site to shut down the illegal gathering late on Saturday night
Revellers were pictured dancing with black eyes at the event that saw four people hospitalised
Over a thousand people descended on Kenfig Industrial estate in South Wales
Police were called to the units late on Saturday evening as the rave began
He said: ‘It’s like that scene from crocodile Dundee when the punk rockers gate crash that house…. It’s crazy, from what I could make out they’ve travelled down from England.’
Other videos taken showed huge crowds gathered around makeshift stages that had been erected on the site.
Several videos show people inhaling balloons as they dance in the congested area.
Police said they were called to reports of a loud event in Bridgend, south Wales, on Saturday night and ordered the crowds to disperse however by lunchtime yesterday there were still hundreds of people at the site.
Providing an update this morning, Superintendent Steve Jones commented: ‘We are reviewing all lines of enquiry following the gathering at Kenfig Industrial Estate to identify any offences under the appropriate legislation.
‘The relevant details of some offenders have been obtained and enquiries are ongoing.
‘A large majority of those who attended the event left in the late afternoon.
‘Our resources remained in the vicinity of the scene throughout yesterday evening. The injuries of those taken to hospital remain non serious.’
Police say over 70 cars were parked along the small country roads leading to the illegal rave
Witnesses say that some people at the rave were seen lying semi-conscious on the ground
Police eventually managed to disperse the crowds on Sunday afternoon
Local reaction to the rave, which reportedly saw several people lying ‘semi-conscious’ around the rave has been mixed with some commending their efforts and others criticising the mess that has been created.
One person wrote on Facebook: ‘That place is just going to be left full of c**p and litter. Kenfig is abused enough by some local people and it’s such a shame.’
Another said: ‘Let them carry on not hurting or harming anyone.’
One raver, Nigel, travelled from Hampshire with his three friends in a van.
He said they arrived in the early hours and do not worry about when they have to head home and they go to these sorts of events most weekends.
This weekend, according to Nigel, was a significant event on the rave scene as it is EggTech or EggTek, which is a celebration of techno music at Easter.
The annual event is part of the Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR) and ‘free rave movement’, which originated in the US in the 1990s.
The rave started on Saturday night and lasted all the way until Sunday afternoon
Around 70 cars descended on the area causing local roads to become blocked
Locals reported seeing people leaving the site of the rave early yesterday morning
Locals have criticised the event and fear people will leave large amounts of rubbish behind
Free raves intend to offer people an opportunity to ‘escape’ and freely dance in a safe space among like-minded people.
Nigel said: ‘It’s a class event and this is a good place for it. Last year we had it in Dorset. 100% worth the trip.’
Local resident Chris Davies said: ‘I started work at 6am this morning and I thought it was a concert or something. You could hear it at the bottom of the hill. They’re not much trouble.
‘There were people walking down this morning and I stopped a guy and asked: “What’s going on? Is it a concert?” He just went “Uuuhhh”. I wasn’t getting much out of him.’
Another participant, Chris, travelled for four hours to get here today and said it’s been ‘completely worth it’.
Explaining how they find these raves, he said: ‘Basically they come out about a week before. Everyone sends their numbers in on the social media group and then everyone gets a group text saying: Ring this number on this day.’
‘Then on the phone line it gives you a general area to go to. Last night it said “head to Bristol area”. So everyone in the country going was heading to Bristol last night.
‘Then that changed to Cardiff as we were driving through the night. That’s the best thing. It’s an adventure. Eventually you find out where you’re going. I’ve been going to them for years and you get to know so many people. It says on all texts: Respect the land and respect the police.
‘It’s just a bit of fun getting loads of people together and having a party… I’ve always found as long as you’re nice to the police they’re decent.’
Four people were rushed to hospital after more than 1,000 people gathered for an illegal rave on Saturday
Pictured are people at the rave at the Kenfig Industrial Estate in Margam, south Wales
South Wales Police said more than 1,000 people were in attendance at one point, with hundreds still there yesterday afternoon
Ahead of the bank holiday weekend the Welsh Ambulance Service urged people not to ‘waste vital resources’.
The service said: ‘The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to protect their resources over the four-day Bank Holiday weekend.
‘The Trust is reminding people to collect any medication, including prescriptions and stock up on first aid supplies to treat minor injuries and illness as home.
‘Along with the four-day weekend comes an improved weather picture, and we are asking the public to please drink responsibly and treat our emergency workers with respect.’
Sonia Thompson, Assistant Director of Operations (Emergency Medical Service), said: ‘We always see a rise in demand in our services over a long weekend, and this weekend is expected to be no different.
‘Improved weather usually means more people are out and about socialising or travelling to visit family and friends, so it’s important that they collect their prescriptions, keep a stocked first aid kit in their homes and cars and know what services to use should they become ill or suffer an injury.’
