Loud music from an illegal rave attended by up to 40 people disturbed neighbours of Mitcham Common last night.

Police took more than four hours to disperse the crowd, some of whom were dancing and causing trouble until the early hours of this morning.

There were also reports of a number of minor disturbances in the area with men kicking bins, a bottle being thrown at police and a bus stop being damaged near the party in the Seven Islands Pond area of the common.

Power generators were being used to blast out tunes until at least 3.30am when the gathering was dispersed by police.

Officers were called at 10.45pm on Sunday, April 6.

Police dealing with the gathering arrested a 30-year-old man from Croydon on suspicion of affray. He was taken to a south London police station.