RAVERS celebrating a birthday party kept residents awake with loud music across open fields.

Police were called to the "rave" on open land off Dover Lane in Poling, a village between Littlehampton and Angmering early this morning.

Officers were initially called at about 2am and spent about an hour and a half searching for the gathering. A police helicopter was also involved in the search.

Denise Cairns used Twitter to tell police: "Please do something about that loud music coming from Angmering area. I'm in Rustington and can hear it and can't sleep!"

The Rustington Village Twitter account added: "Loud rave music ringing across the area once more. Does anyone have an idea where it is coming from?"

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "We did find a small group of about 18 people.

"When we got there they were quite good-natured and packed up and left.

"It was more of a large party than a rave but still obviously caused a nuisance."

No one was arrested.