AN illegal rave party that drew 3,000 revellers to a hamlet throughout the Bank Holiday weekend is being investigated by police.

Hordes of people first flocked to an area of Herefordshire farmland on Saturday night, West Mercia police said.

Though some left the site at Stretford Court farm, Stretford, near Leominster, the next day, a large number remained and continued to play loud music, disturbing local residents.

Officers blocked all the approach roads and turned back anyone trying to join in, but there were too many people at the gathering for police to take control and force them to leave.

An estimated 3,000 people were still on site yesterday when officers attempted to talk to revellers, but they had to turn back after being pelted by bottles and glasses.

Insp Bob Barnett today said the site had quietened down and they believed a large number of people had left overnight.

He confirmed 15 people had been arrested as they were leaving. They are suspected of being involved in the organisation of the rave.

Officers also confiscated large amounts of sound equipment and alcohol and further arrests are expected.

"We are still trying to seek out the organisers of the event. They will be prosecuted as it's an illegal rave," Insp Barnett said.

"When we went to the site we were subjected to a large amount of verbal abuse and bottles and glasses were thrown - not just by adults but by children. And they also used dogs."

He added: "Investigations are continuing."

One reveller was taken to hospital over the weekend suffering from the effects of either alcohol or drugs, police said.