FANS were stunned to hear a mention of an infamous Worcestershire rave on a recent Coronation Street episode.

The Castlemorton Common Festival, which took place near Malvern in 1992, is widely known for being the largest illegal rave in Britain.

Now, more than 30 years later, it has received a mention on Coronation Street in an episode televised on Wednesday, January 24 where character Bernie Winter spoke of a fire that had broken out in the street.

She said: "I've not seen that much smoke since the Castlemorton hotbox of '92."

An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 new age travellers gathered on Castlemorton Common for the week-long party, lasting from May 22 to May 29.

It proved to be a major controversy at the time, with police oblivious to the party until travellers were on site and admitting they were powerless to put a stop to it.

In the aftermath, 13 members of Spiral Tribe Sound System were arrested and charged with public order offences, which they were eventually acquitted.

Ultimately, a clampdown on illegal raves came into force not long after with the formation of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.