Teenagers accused police of being heavy-handed when they arrived in the early hours of the morning to break up an illegal rave in Carterton.

According to eye-witnesses at the party, up to seven police cars, a riot van, dog handler and an ambulance were summoned to the scene at a warehouse on the South Industrial Estate off Black Bourton Road, Carterton.

More than 30 young people, mainly teenagers from the town, gathered after midnight and into the early hours of Saturday. Officers seized sound equipment and made several arrests.

Police said an 18-year-old was arrested for possession of cannabis and theft of a vehicle — a fork lift truck removed from the industrial unit — and a 19-year-old for burglary.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Toby Shergold said the warehouse had been broken into and a rave was set up at about 1am.

He could give no further details.

Unemployed teenager Jack Murphy, 18, of Dovetrees, Carterton, was among those arrested. He has not been charged with any offence.

He told the Oxford Mail: “We all gathered there by word of mouth.

“There was a full sound system and a DJ.

“It was going okay when all these police suddenly came in.

“Some fighting broke out with them and there was a bit of violence.

“It got a bit out of hand.”

Another Carterton teenager, Chris Baughan, 19, said: “I got there after it started and there were about 30 people having a good time.

“Suddenly all these officers turned up. There were about six or seven police cars, a dog unit and ambulance. It looked well over the top.”

He claimed one youth — aged about 15 — suffered a broken nose and was taken to hospital.

It is understood the warehouse was not damaged despite being broken into.