Devon and Cornwall Police is asking the public to report 'raves' over the New Year period.

It said that it would also work with farmers and landowners to secure sites and make them unsuitable for unlicensed music events.

The force has told people to look out for:

• An unusual increase in road traffic in rural areas;
• Social media activity advertising the rave and its location;
• Vehicles carrying sound equipment;
• Large gatherings of people in unusual areas late at night (e.g. farmland, open countryside or abandoned buildings).

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "We know the misery raves can cause to nearby residents, with loud music keeping people awake for hours on end. It also has a significant impact on livestock and wildlife, and often participants leave the land badly damaged.

"We would like to encourage our local communities including farmers and landowners to take pro active pre-emptive measures... [which] can be as simple as ensuring padlocks on gateways are serviceable, broken fences or open gateways are closed and any buildings are properly secured.

"Uniformed and plain clothes officers are regularly patrolling areas which have been identified as possible targets of rave organisers."

You can report a potential rave to 101. If you see organisers setting up equipment, call 999.

People can also report information anonymously to charity Crimestoppers either via their website or by calling 0800 555 111.