South Wales Police said that officers remain at the scene
16:04, 19 Oct 2025Updated 11:26, 21 Oct 2025
South Wales Police said officers attended to ensure everyone went home(Image: Google)
Residents living in valleys communities were unable to sleep on Saturday night as the sound of a “hardcore techno rave” could be heard coming from a nearby mountain. Officers from South Wales Police attended what they have described as “an unlicensed music event” that took place on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday.
It is understood that the illegal rave, which took place near the small village of Croeserw in Neath Port Talbot, was held on a mountainside. Police said they remain in the area at this time.
Locals claim that they met attendees at the local train station, who had travelled from as far as Bristol to attend the event.
The nearby communities have described being kept awake until the early hours of the morning.
A local resident said: “It started just after midnight, I felt it before I heard it! The noise drove us nuts for hours and the dog was barking like crazy.
“It sounded like a hardcore techno rave coming from over the mountain somewhere, or maybe the country park – not sure. Think I must’ve got to sleep well past 2am, with my earplugs in. Nightmare.”
There are multiple reports on social media that people living in Cwmbach, Treorchy, Abernant, Mountain Ash, Landare, Cwmaman, Cwmdare and Aberdare heard the noise.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “Officers attended a report of an unlicensed music event taking place near Croeserw last night.
“Officers remain at the location to ensure the safe dispersal of attendees.
“Enquiries are on-going in relation to any criminal offences which may have been committed.”
It’s not the first illegal rave held in Wales, which has seen people travel from across the UK.
Back in the summer, a large gathering took place in a remote Ceredigion forest which led to concerns for the environment and wildlife in the area.
Dyfed Powys Police said in August that due to the number of people there, they decided to prioritise disrupting and stopping entry of any further vehicles and people under a Section 63 notice.
In June, the same police force had to break up an illegal rave in a forest in Brechfa, Carmarthenshire.
A spokesperson said at the time: “There is little doubt that these types of events are very well planned, organised and that local knowledge is important in drawing down the main group to a particular field, or area of land.”
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