A MAIN road shut by police because of a nearby illegal rave has re-opened. 

The Falmer Road through Woodingdean which leads to the A27 was blocked off by police for most of the day because of the gathering on South Downs farmland. 

It has re-opened in the last half an hour. 

Police confirmed earlier they had arrested someone on suspicion of drug driving after the rave. 

The Sussex Roads police team said officers made the arrest this afternoon after spotting a vehicle leaving the gathering, which had been taking place on farmland in the national park outside Woodingdean for more than 12 hours. 

Hundreds of ravers poured onto the land in the middle of the night.

Police said they are unable to shut down the illegal gathering because it would not be safe to do so. Instead, the nearest main road has been shut to traffic. 

Officers were called to Woodingdean at around 3am and have shut off Falmer Road in both directions between the Amex stadium and the junction with Bexhill Road. 

The Argus:

A police spokesman said officers were monitoring the situation and the road is closed for the “foreseeable future”. This has caused queues of traffic and forced drivers to turn back. 

No arrests have been made at this stage and no noise complaints have been received, police said, but several residents who live nearby have told online of how the noise disturbed them through the night. 

Eye witnesses claims at its peak the all night party - which is still continuing this afternoon - hit 500 people. Police estimate there were 200 people and around 40 vehicles on the South Downs farmland. 

The Argus:

A police spokesman said: "Officers became aware of a large number of vehicles and people on the Falmer Road, Brighton, just before 3am. 

"They were travelling to a rave event on land off Falmer Road.

"It is estimated that at its height there were some 200 people and 40 vehicles present. A police presence at the location was maintained and measures were taken to seek to prevent it escalating further.

"Officers went to the site and closed nearby roads to any further vehicles. Falmer Road remains closed with the junction of Bexhill Road.

"Although there are powers available to the police to close down illegal gatherings such as this, before exercising these powers an assessment has to be undertaken to determine whether or not such a gathering can be closed down safely and effectively.

"The assessment was that it would not be possible or safe to close the event in view of the time of night and the layout of the land."

Some party goers have started to leave the site already and the music was switched off at about 2pm. 

Superintendent Jane Derrick said: "We are continuing to monitor the site, speak to the organisers and to bring it to a safe conclusion today. We want to get Falmer Road re-opened and minimise disruption to the community."

For the full story see tomorrow's Argus.