ANDOVER police have warned summer solstice revellers heading for Stonehenge this weekend that any attempts to hold unlicensed mass parties and gatherings in Hampshire will not be tolerated.

Hampshire officers will be out in force throughout the county and especially in the area between Basingstoke, Andover and the Wiltshire border to thwart any attempts to hold such an event.

Supt Mark Chatterton, at Andover, said: "We are not being killjoys. We are all in favour of people having a good time provided the event is properly licensed to ensure that it is safe for everyone.

"Last month 25,000 people attended the Home-lands Festival near Winchester. They enjoyed themselves in a safe and properly organised environment.

"We will not stand for anyone setting up any sort of event that has not been through the safety and licensing process, and there is nothing that meets that criteria in Hampshire around the solstice."

The police say that anyone travelling through Hampshire who is suspected of being behind such an event risks having any sound systems and speakers they are carrying seized by Hampshire police when stopped.

The Ministry of Defence, a major landowner around Andover has not given permission for any of its land to be used for a gathering.

MoD police, the Army and Hampshire police officers are working together to ensure that their sites are secure from occupation by solstice revellers.