Reports of people on the South Downs with a sound system sparked fears that the infamous two-day Steyning rave could be repeated.

Officers responded to a call that a group of people with music equipment were seen in fields near Bostal Road, Steyning, at around 3pm yesterday (June 3).

Residents were said to be concerned that a rave could be about to take place as it had done two years before in the same location, during which 2,000 people took over the fields.

But police carried out a search of the fields and nearby areas and found no sign of any equipment or any offences having been committed.

The Argus: The Steyning Rave, 2021The Steyning Rave, 2021 (Image: The Argus)

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A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “We responded to a report of a small group of people possibly with music equipment in Borstal Road, near Steyning, around 3.23pm on June 3.

“An extensive search of the area was carried out and there was no sign of any equipment or any offences committed.”

The alarm was raised as residents wanted to avoid a repeat of the Steyning rave from June 2021 which saw thousands people descend on Borstal Road, leading to dozens of arrests and eventual convictions.