HORRIFIED residents have spoken of their shock after police officers descended on a teenager’s birthday party that got out of hand in Highworth.

Five police cars and an ambulance were called to St Michael’s Hall in Lechlade Road on Friday night, with residents calling the party “absolute carnage”.

More than 25 young partygoers were forced to leave by police.

Officers initially reported on Facebook that there was underage drinking but Wiltshire Police were unable to comment further over the weekend.

It is believed the party started around 6pm and only a couple hours had passed before things started to kick off.

One nearby resident, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “What we couldn’t understand was where the noise was coming from until our neighbour came across and said there was a car parked in the car park with some sort of boom box in it.

“We didn’t hear much noise early on but when the car came along, it was like being in the middle of Glastonbury.

“Usually if there is a disco or something in there and the side door is open then we can hear everything but nothing like that has happened for months.

“In the past we’ve had kids playing chicken with the traffic outside of the hall.”

A window at the hall was smashed and an ambulance was called but it is not yet known whether paramedics treated anyone.

The party is believed to have ended around 11pm.

Fellow resident Zoe Hicks-Compton, 41, said: “It was absolute carnage because there was just crowds of people along the road.

“We were just in the lounge watching the TV when my son said he could see flashing lights. We usually see the blue lights come and pass but he said it had stopped outside and that is when we looked out to see everything.

“It has never been that bad before and I’ve lived here for a few years.”

Mike Koza, who helps look after St Michael's Hall, said contrary to reports on Facebook, the party was under control by responsible adults and believes it was gate crashers that caused the trouble.

“Obviously the gate crashers weren’t allowed in and they started giving a bit of verbal and so it got a bit noisy. The police were called and sorted it all out straight away with one of the parents.

“When I got there, the police had just gone but there were a few adults and children still around but none of them were intoxicated or seemed like they had been drinking. If there was underage drinking it was probably the gate crashers.

“It was a storm in a teacup that’s all.”

Mike added that the parents of the teenage boy who broke the window have reached an agreement with the parish hall committee to pay for its repair.