POLICE in Wiltshire have been criticised for their soft treatment of an illegal rave compared with the way officers in Herefordshire dealt with an almost identical event at the weekend.

Some of the criticism has been made by the Earl of Cardigan, who accused Wiltshire police of taking a softly-softly approach when 800 revellers spent two nights in Savernake Forest on the May Day bank holiday weekend.

Further criticism has come from Sir Nigel Thompson, who lives at Stitchcombe. He said the noise from the rave was so loud that visitors to his home left early.

Both asked why Wiltshire police did not seize the equipment used by rave organisers as the law permits.

Lord Cardigan said the actions of West Mercia police at the weekend in seizing a large amount of equipment used at an illegal rave near Leominster was exactly what he asked Wiltshire police to do in Savernake Forest, part of his family estate.

He said: "West Mercia Police appear to have done what Parliament invited County Constabularies to do, and which Wiltshire Constabulary did not do."

Wiltshire police said they decided to avoid confrontation because of the risk of injuries to officers and ravers.