A FARMER has condemned what he labelled police “inactivity” after an illegal rave on his land left him £70,000 out of pocket.

About 500 revellers broke into a grain store on farmland north of Bicester, for the all-night party and left broken glass, gas canisters and cans strewn across an adjacent field.

They also trampled over corn stored in the barn, at Newton Morrell, which is now contaminated and cannot be sold for food.

The rave went on for about 12 hours but police did not move to close it down even after an off-duty officer alerted them to it at 1am yesterday.

Farmer David Taylor said he was told that just four police officers were sent to the rave and they could not arrest anyone, because it would leave them short-handed.

Police defended their operation however and four men were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage. They were in custody at Banbury police station yesterday.

Mr Taylor said: “I’m absolutely furious. The corn was worth £60,000 and I can no longer use it. I may have to throw it away.

“I have also lost an acre of field space normally used for wheat, because it has been strewn with debris and churned up by the cars.

“They couldn’t arrest anyone, because two of them would have to go to the station in Bicester.

“It’s ridiculous. These kids were breaking the law and completely escaped punishment, because of police inactivity.”

It is thought the clean-up bill could run to £10,000.

Police said a lot of the damage had already been caused by the time officers arrived.

Mr Taylor was alerted to the rave, which was still going at 11am yesterday, by another farmer. He said: “There were people everywhere and so many were drunk or off their face on something.

“The music was still blaring and you could see the damage they had done. Yet when they started leaving, the police only took some of their numbers.

“Why on earth were they not being breathalysed? They must have had God-knows-what in their system.

“I feel very angry and very let down that nothing was done.”

Thames Valley Police spokesman Craig Evry said : “The initial priority was to locate the landowner, as well as gather intelligence and evidence, with a view to mounting a suitably-resourced tactical operation, with the aim of bringing the illegal rave to a safe and orderly conclusion and investigating identified criminal offences.

“Vehicles which left the site of the illegal rave were stopped by police officers, with the details taken of the vehicle, the driver and all the occupants. This was in part to ensure those driving vehicles out of the site were safe to do and would not be putting other road users at risk.”

The four men arrested are aged 25, 26, 28 and 33.

Two vehicles and sound equipment were also seized by police.

In May last year police intervened to stop a rave near Lewknor.

At the time, Supt Chris Sharp, the area commander for South Oxfordshire, said: “This sends a clear message to those intending to carry out such activities that it will not be tolerated.

“There is also the impact this type of event has on local communities, and I hope this reassures people we will do everything in our power to stop this illegal activity.”