Police and environmental health officers stopped a rave on Port Meadow after complaints in north Oxford.

They were called in the early hours of Sunday when the rave started about 250 yards from the end of Walton Well Road, Jericho.

An hour later, the organisers packed up and left after being told they could be served with a noise abatement notice and have their equipment seized.

Richard Atherton, the assistant city environmental health officer, said: "Wisely, they chose to stop and were escorted off the site.

"As the equipment was being driven away people were still arriving.

"We don't want to stop people enjoying themselves, but that doesn't give them the right to cause a noise nuisance."

Three weeks ago, police and environmental health officers raided a rave at the LMS station and seized speakers, amplifiers and a collection of records to enforce a noise abatement notice.

Oxford City Council has powers to seize stereo systems and magistrates can ensure that they are not returned.

The equipment is then either destroyed if it has no value or sold to cover costs. It is only returned after the costs of the seizure have been paid.

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