IN the early hours of this morning (Sunday, 29 May), police moved into an area of Grays to shut down and prevent an unlicensed music event that had been arranged to take place on the Globe Industrial Estate in Little Thurrock.

Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill was quick to commend the operation, saying: "I would like to pass on my thanks to Essex Police for quickly responding to intelligence received, to ensure the unlicensed music event did not run to the anticipated scale today.

"Unlicensed music events are a criminal activity, they are a significant disturbance to local residents and can pose a high risk to attendees.

"Globe Industrial Estate is a one way road, surrounded on nearly all sides by housing which raises concern if this event had gone ahead. Residents regularly, quite rightly, complain about traffic movements and noise from the estate nearly 24/7.

"The last thing they needed is hundreds of party goers coming and going to an unlicensed event.

"The response provided by Essex Police and on call officers from the council has ensured there has been minimal impact to the local community today, thank you again."