News that travellers were set to invade Savernake Forest on the 20th anniversary of the Battle of the Beanfield brought back memories for veteran reporter NIGEL KERTON

FEARS of a huge rave in Savernake Forest at the weekend proved unfounded as police mounted a round the clock guard on the woods.

From intelligence gathered from the internet and other sources, police believed an attempt could be made to repeat the huge rave that shattered the peace of the district two years ago.

It was on a May bank holiday weekend in 2003 that hundreds of revellers descended on Savernake Forest for a rave in the Grand Avenue.

It was an organised event with a number of lorries used as stages from which huge amplifiers blasted out music.

Police received complaints about the sound from as far away as Ramsbury and Burbage. They let the event continue rather than face a confrontation with revellers, a decision that caused concern to those who had to put up with the noise.

Since 2002 police have mounted an intelligence operation that includes monitoring of web sites where raves might be advertised.

Officers spotted an advertisement for a Vintage Bus and Truck Club commemorative gathering in Savernake Forest on May 31 "recreating a bygone era of classic camping in Wiltshire". The advertisement stated: "If you are interested in converted coaches or simply enjoy driving old trucks and trailers then our event may interest you."

It added that there would be an antiquity road run on June 1, the 20th anniversary of the infamous Battle of the Beanfield when a hippy convoy that had laid up in Savernake Forest tried to break through police cordons around Stonehenge.

Leave was cancelled at the weekend for Marlborough officers and all the entrances into Savernake Forest were either closed with barriers, reinforced with huge logs, or manned by police officers.

The weekend turned out to be uneventful with no attempt made to set up a rave in Savernake or anywhere else in Wiltshire.

Although police had reports of a rave being planned at Ramsbury it turned out to be a properly organised 16th birthday party!

Salisbury divisional police spokesman David Taylor said the weekend had passed without incident. He said it was impossible to say whether a rave would have taken place if police had not mounted their round the clock watch, code named Operation Acoustic.

He said: "We would like to hail it as a success because it enabled people to have a relaxing bank holiday weekend in the knowledge that police officers were on stand by in case of any illegal events."

Teams of officers were on duty from Friday until Monday, working in 12 hour shifts.

All weekend police officers were on duty at the entrance to the Postern Hill camping and picnic sites letting campers and families pass unheeded.

Marlborough Mayor Hilary Cripps, who had taken part in talks with police about the possibility of a rave being held near the town, supported their action.

Coun Cripps said: "It was good to know that the police were on hand if anything had gone wrong.

"It sent out a clear message to these people who organise raves that we do not want them here or anywhere else in Wiltshire for that matter."