'They held a full-blown rave in the middle of Kibworth – they were out of control': Councillor furious after large party left villagers frightened

Up to 50 “drunk” people who staged a rowdy late-night “rave” in a Harborough village have been slammed by a furious councillor.

The group have sparked uproar in Kibworth after blasting out loud music, shouting and swearing in a popular park before running away when police turned up on Friday night (October 30).

The high-level disturbance at Smeeton Road Recreation Ground in Kibworth Beauchamp has now been condemned by Cllr Kevin Feltham as police said many of the culprits were “clearly drunk”.

Outraged Kevin told the Harborough Mail: “It is simply unbelievable – it was chaos.

“We have never had anything like this happen here in the village before.

“And this had better be the first and last time – because we don’t want to see a repeat of these disgraceful scenes ever again.”

The Conservative councillor insisted: “These kids have gone out and held a full-blown rave in the middle of Kibworth – they were out of control.

“We’ve had low-level trouble in Smeeton Road rec and the rest of our village in the past.

“But nothing anywhere near this scale.

“It’s totally unacceptable – and it’s got to stop now.”

Kevin, who lives nearby, said angry and frightened residents have lashed out since the mass gathering.

“The kids who did this are just simply louts – hooligans.

“People live close to Smeeton Road rec on two sides, they are living just feet away from all this yobbishness,” said Cllr Feltham, who sits on both Kibworth Beauchamp and Kibworth Harcourt parish councils.

“We’d expect to see this sort of nonsense in inner city London or Birmingham, maybe the worst parts of Leicester, but not Kibworth for heaven’s sake.

“Shouting, swearing, booming out ear-splitting music, heavy drinking, perhaps drugs.

“I’ve been inundated with complaints from residents and families who can’t believe what went on.

“This is very intimidating behaviour - apart from the huge impact it has on people’s mental health and well being,” said Kevin, who’s also a county councillor.

“I’m calling for a public space protection order to be imposed here.

“This was introduced in Little Bowden park in Market Harborough after a massive fight there in the summer.

“If it’s good enough to be brought in in an effort to restore law and order in Little Bowden then it should be imposed here too.

“One local woman told police she was so fed-up she was going to have a word with the louts.

“But police warned her to stay away in case they were carrying knives.

“That’s truly scary.”

The veteran councillor said teenagers also pushed over a full litter bin and wrenched a solid park bench 10-15 feet in nearby Warwick Road Recreation Ground in Kibworth Harcourt that night.

“A few of us tried to push the bench back on Saturday morning.

“But we couldn’t, it was too heavy.

“I’m grateful to the police for coming out at the height of this incident.

“But we need to be kept in the loop,” said Kevin.

“We used to meet our local officers regularly.

“But they just seem to be too busy to get together with us now.

“We need greater co-operation from the police and Harborough council if we are to crack down on this menace.

“The kids’ parents have a crucial role to play as well and have to assume far more responsibility.

“They must realise when their sons and daughters trail back in covered in mud and stinking of booze that they have been up to no good.”

Harborough police tweeted: “We've been called twice tonight (Friday) to the park on the Smeeton Road #Kibworth.

“We found a group of 40 to 50 children playing loud music, shouting and swearing.

“Bad by any standard.

“If yours comes home tonight covered in mud it's because they ran across fields when we arrived.”

Police added: “A lot of these teens were clearly drunk, and have got the drink from somewhere.

“Might be from home.

“They have also put themselves and their families at risk from the Covid virus.

“It might not affect them badly but older family members might not be so lucky.

“We will be back.”