Hundreds of revellers ignored coronavirus restrictions by gathering together at a street party that police were forced to break up.
Around 500 people are claimed to have been at the illegal event in the residential neighbourhood in Cheylesmore, Coventry, on Friday night.
Police received reports from neighbours who dialled 999 to complain about the party as the revellers listened to loud rap music and flouted social distancing rules, Coventry Live reports.
Though lockdown restrictions have eased, the Government is still advising against meetings of more than six people outdoors. Members of two households can meet in any location.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “There was a lockdown party with a DJ in a residential area with around 500 people in total, including some smoking cannabis.
"There were a hundred on a small green but there were hundreds more nearby in the neighbourhood. They first met in a community centre car park and then they moved on from there.
"There were people going round in cars, doing laughing gas and some were wearing balaclavas, I don't know why.
"I was really worried as were my children. We were told some people at the party are part of a new gang that has been formed. I really hope other residents aren’t suffering.”
The gathering took place in Campion Close despite warnings from West Midlands Police about illegal raves and car cruising this weekend.
Coventry Police said on Twitter : "We've been called to break up a large street party in Campion Close, Coventry.
"Officers are currently dispersing the gathering. Be responsible and follow the restrictions, large gatherings increase the risk of
spreading Covid-19."
Police have also warned about car cruising meetings and raves planned in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands over the coming days.
The force said it is continuing to monitor and act on intelligence to prevent such large gatherings, which are still banned due to fears of spreading coronavirus.
Hundreds of cars and spectators have been known to attend meets across the region, with the gatherings being a long-standing problem.
In a message on its website, the force said: "We’ll be on the lookout for street racers and anti-social car gatherings under Operation
Hercules which uses traffic resources on our key arterial routes across the West Midlands, where we have a number of injunctions in
place."
