A MEETING to mend bridges between the police and the local community following a noisy 18-hour rave in Alice Holt Forest has been described as very constructive.

The failure of the police to stop the illegal party held in Lodge Enclosure on the night of April 6/7 incensed local people who were kept awake all night by the disturbance and were upset by the open use of drugs.

Peter Wonson, an East Hampshire district councillor, was one of the residents who complained to police, but he said that having met with officers since the incident, he had a better understanding of their problems.

Speaking at Binsted's annual parish meeting, Mr Wonson said: "The police are undermanned because they haven't got the funding. I wouldn't have said that three weeks ago."

The meeting between police, local residents and representatives from the Forestry Commission and Environmental Health was held to try to improve ways of responding to similar incidents in the future.

Inspector Steve Moat, from Alton Police Station, was at the annual parish meeting to discuss with members of the public and councillors, the issues raised.

He said: "We didn't get it right a couple of weeks ago. We were caught out."

If another rave took place, spotter vehicles would be sent out to try to stop an event with "gentle intimidation", he said.

He assured the public that the police take drugs offences seriously but that on the night of the Alice Holt rave, there was a shortage of police officers to deal with the disturbance and the on-duty inspector had to consider the safety of his men.

He explained that raves often change venue suddenly, and originally the Alice Holt event had been planned for a site near Dorking, giving the police little time to divert the partygoers.

Having made the decision to let it run, the police are now identifying the organisers and hoping to follow up with prosecutions, but Inspector Moat promised: "In future, we will be more robust."

Inspector Moat also visited Bentley's annual parish meeting later on in the week and spoke to villagers there.