When Sussex Police received a report of an illegal rave on Saturday evening, a squad car with flashing blue lights was scrambled to the scene.

The officer arrived expecting to find revellers dancing to pumping music - and was ready to shut the wild party down.

But instead of a hedonistic rave, the bemused police officer found a group of elderly villagers and families quietly watching an open air showing of Grease.

The event, organised by Forest Row Parish Council, took place in a car park behind the Foresters pub.

Rodabe Rudin, Forest Row parish clerk, said the surprise police visit had been “surreal”.

She said: “We were all sitting watching the film when suddenly the police officer turned up out of the blue. He looked a bit baffled and asked if we were having a rave so we told him we weren’t.

“Everyone was very confused, not least the police officer himself.

“I suppose we had a popcorn machine and a few hot dogs but I could hardly describe it as a wild party.”

Mrs Rudin said organisers had sent letters to neighbours warning them about the event.

She said: “Everyone seemed quite happy so we can’t understand why someone would call the police. It was a bit of a waste of their time, to be honest.

“There were some teenagers hanging around at the back but I don’t believe they were raving.

“The next film we’ll show will be Dirty Dancing, but there will certainly be no raving. I’m far too old for that.”

Inspector Lee Lyons, who gave the order to investigate the ‘rave’, said the officer had seen the funny side.

He said: “He certainly got a shock - but he thought it was pretty amusing.

“Obviously no one was breaking the law so we left them in peace to enjoy their night.

“We do always respond to reports of illegal raves, even if they don’t always turn out to be accurate.”

 

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