Police will not break up illegal raves because darkness is a health and safety risk

A police force has sparked fury by admitting it is powerless to break up illegal raves - because it's too dark when the party is in full swing.

Chief Inspector Gill Ellis, of Kent Police, blamed the lack of action on "health and safety" regulations when tackled by locals whose lives are blighted by the noisy all-night drug-fests in a wooded property around Sevenoaks.

Chief Supt Ellis told a meeting of concerned residents that it was not safe to disperse revellers in remote locations when it was dark - insisting safety regulations meant officers had to wait until sunrise to break up the bashes.

And the force said it could be dangerous to disperse ravers because they may get into their cars to drive home while still high on drink and drugs.