A RURAL campaign group is warning landowners to keep a watchful eye around empty buildings after police foiled a number of attempts to hold unlicensed raves in the region.

North Yorkshire Police have thwarted a number of attempts to hold raves in the area, including a rave planned for a large abandoned premises in the Hambleton Hills area of Stokesley, last weekend.

Officers have restricted the amount of information released about the incident in an attempt to prevent copycat raves.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is now asking farmers and landowners to help the police by reporting any suspicious activity around empty buildings.

CLA Yorkshire regional director Dorothy Fairburn said: "Due to early intervention and good local intelligence, North Yorkshire Police have so far been able to prevent these illegal events and deal with the organisers but the threat has not gone away.

"The police and local councils take raves very seriously but their powers are limited once an event gets underway, which is why prevention is so important. Raves can cause a great deal of disruption and often result in damage being caused.

"Frequently the landowner is left to clear up the site and bear the considerable costs incurred."

The CLA is advising members to reduce the risk of any illegal activity occurring in empty and remote buildings by ensuring they are secure and regularly monitored; that access to land is restricted wherever possible by the use of locked gates; that any unusual activity around buildings or land is reported to the police; and that employees are made aware of the need to report any unusual activity.

Any suspicious activity around empty premises can be reported to North Yorkshire Police on 0845-60-60-247.