I didn't go to a rave on Saturday night, I went to a free party. We went out on the Downs, had a fantastic time, watched the sun come up and then wandered home in the late morning warmth. It's a real pity this became public interest because of damaged police cars.

I wish they hadn't been damaged, as did almost all the 300 or so other party-goers. I saw no more than 50 vehicles at the site. And to call the sound system sophisticated - I'll bet every Argus reader has something more complicated at home or in their car.

It was immediately obvious why the cars had been pushed off the track - they had blocked off the only exit. The people who did it weren't aggressive, violent or even very anti-establishment, they just wanted to go home. The cars did not go down a steep hill, they were resting on their wheels less than ten feet from where they had stood. They had rolled only once.

Fear of being trapped by the police caused the incident. We didn't need the police at the party but their desire to stop us doing what we wanted to do - a party on Shoreham beach had been shut down earlier that night, causing us to find an alternative site - caused friction.

Parties are always held as far from residents as possible and, like everyone else, we like the countryside. If we had venues where we were all allowed to party, we would do so safely and calmly.

And you might like to know, I didn't take any drugs at this "rave". Not everyone does, you know.

-Dave Wigram, dave@aptnewmedia.com