A security guard found evidence of drug use after being called to investigate a late night rave.

The Metropolitan Police received complaints on Saturday night regarding a supposed rave coming from the area of Barnet Road in Arkley.

Noise began at around 11am and continued throughout the night.

It is believed that more than 500 young people were attending an illegal rave on land behind the petrol station, off Stirling Corner roundabout.

Security guard Dave Jordan, of Proforce Security, was called by a nearby landowner to investigate the noise – but left shortly after arriving at the site, fearing the large numbers of people could get out of control.

He said: “The padlocks had been broken open, and they were using the old police station to graffiti and things.

“When you can see around 500 to 600 people off their heads, dancing around, you leave it alone. There was nothing we could do about it then.”

Mr Jordan said he found evidence of drug use when he returned to check the area for damage the next day, which he collected to hand over to the police.

People living nearby took to social media during the night to complain about the persistent noise, which continued until around 6am the following morning.

Sue Alford, a committee member of the Elstree and Borehamwood Residents Association, said the noise could be heard a mile away and feels not enough was done to stop the problem.

She said: “I could hear every word yelled by the MC over their PA system and words of every song, from half a kilometre away, for the entire six hours until 6am on Sunday morning.

"It was as loud as if someone was parked in our driveways with their car stereo turned right up.

Arkley home owner June Rapacholi added that the Shell petrol station was forced to close due to the disturbance and said she was worried that the party-goers could easily climb the walls into her neighbourhood.

She said: "If they can break a big padlock and get into that land, they can easily climb the walls into this estate. The whole thing was as loud as a Robbie Williams concert at Wembley, and abolsutely nothing was done to stop it. It's a disgrace."

As no criminal offences had been alleged, police contacted the duty Environmental Health Officer at Barnet Council to inform them and the local Neighbourhood Policing Team are now in discussion with the owners of the land.