Watch the shocking moment dozens of cops arrived to shut down a huge illegal forest rave

This is the moment police swooped and surrounded hundreds of party-goers as they broke up an illegal all-night forest rave.

The rave had been in full swing for 20 hours before officers - in full riot gear and bearing shields - swarmed on the 500-strong rave revellers.

More than 100 riot police broke up the party in Thetford Forest, the largest lowland pine forest in Britain, on the border of Suffolk and Norfolk.

One attendee said: "Before the police arrived the atmosphere was really good - I didn't see any fights, everyone was just enjoying themselves really.

"Someone said they saw six white vans coming.

Minutes later, we saw about a hundred police officers walk towards the main part of the rave.

"We ran to see what was happening.

"The organisers were on the decks shouting to people 'we don't want violence, we just want to party'.

"There were a handful of people resisting the police, and the police responded by hitting them with their riot shields.

"Everyone wanted the party to go on, but most people quickly accepted that wasn't going to happen.

There were a few exceptions, it was generally quite calm.

"One thing I will point out is that a lot of people grabbed bags and started picking up the rubbish.

The place was left spotless - ravers actually do care." The unlicensed event on August 29, started at about 11.30pm and was shut down the next day, at round 6.30pm.

This is the moment police swooped and surrounded hundreds of party-goers as they broke up an illegal all-night forest rave.

The rave had been in full swing for 20 hours before officers - in full riot gear and bearing shields - swarmed on the 500-strong rave revellers.

More than 100 riot police broke up the party in Thetford Forest, the largest lowland pine forest in Britain, on the border of Suffolk and Norfolk.

One attendee said: "Before the police arrived the atmosphere was really good - I didn't see any fights, everyone was just enjoying themselves really.

"Someone said they saw six white vans coming.

Minutes later, we saw about a hundred police officers walk towards the main part of the rave.

"We ran to see what was happening.

"The organisers were on the decks shouting to people 'we don't want violence, we just want to party'.

"There were a handful of people resisting the police, and the police responded by hitting them with their riot shields.

"Everyone wanted the party to go on, but most people quickly accepted that wasn't going to happen.

There were a few exceptions, it was generally quite calm.

"One thing I will point out is that a lot of people grabbed bags and started picking up the rubbish.

The place was left spotless - ravers actually do care." The unlicensed event on August 29, started at about 11.30pm and was shut down the next day, at round 6.30pm.