�Neighbours were left at the mercy of pounding dance beats for hours when ravers took over a park, but police and council workers failed to help.

The residents surrounding Dagnam Park Road, Harold Hill, were furious that their pleas for help fell on deaf ears as drunken revellers ran riot.

At least 100 youngsters forced their way in the manor area of Dagnam Park by breaking the locks on the gates before setting up a sound system by a circle of trees in the middle.

The youngsters blasted loud music out for more than three hours and left broken glass, sacks of rubbish and used sanitary towels lying around before the party was finally broken up.

A council 24-hour hotline told stressed residents to call back on Monday and police officers were too busy elsewhere, the neighbours claim.

A neighbour, who has lived in neaby Sedgefield Crescent for more than 20 years said: “The noise carried on until at least 3am.

“My neighbour and I both rang the police separately and we were told to call the noise environment people. When we called it, we were told to call on Monday between 9-5pm, what good was that to us?

“My friend then phoned the police back and told them what the environmental people had said and was told the police might get someone there but basically don’t hold your breath. Why do the police have such a carefree attitude to matters like this?”

Both locked gates at the Settle Road and Noak Hill entrances were broken, according to wardens and the park was littered with debris.

Upsetting

The neighbour added: “Others called the police but obviously no notice was taken of them either.

“Our group, the Friends of Dagnam Park, try hard to keep the manor litter free and it’s quite soul destroying to see something like this.”

Police said that the incident was reported as a noise incident and not a crime and therefore was not a priority.

A Havering Council spokesman said police had not requested them to attend. He added: “We stopped our Saturday night reactive service in May for a trial period to concentrate on helping victims of more serious and persistent noise rather than one-off parties.”