SEVERAL disgruntled residents reported an “illegal rave” in the early hours.

Police attended the revelry in a field near Ditchling Road in Brighton but no action was taken due to “safety issues”.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “We received two reports of a large group of people playing music in a rural field north of Ditchling Road towards Ditchling Beacon at 12.50am on Sunday.

“Officers attended and assessed the situation.

“But, given the remote location and considering the safety issues surrounding attempted closure of the event during darkness, no action was taken.

“Officers reassessed it when it became light and found people had left and the event had finished.”