The rave was attended by 800 people

Sir Nigel Thompson, who lives at Stitchcombe near Marlborough, says the police should have broken up the gathering.

Wiltshire Police told BBC News Online they did not break up the rave as the risk of public disorder, and the potential for a fire "disaster", was too great.

The illegal rave over the May bank holiday weekend was attended by 800 revellers, despite the forest's owner asking people not to attend.

Sir Thompson, who is expected to become the new head of the Council for the Protection of Rural England next week, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "Why did the police not enter and confiscate generators?

A RAVER'S VIEW The police would have had to use force to get access Anonymous raver

"Why did they not tow away the illegally parked cars?

"If they did this, word would have got around and people would have started to leave."

A spokesperson for the police replied: "It was a health and safety issue.

"In the circumstances - 800 people gathering on a very dry weekend - we followed our guidelines on minimising the risk of public disorder and of injury to police and the public."

One raver contacted by BBC News Online, who preferred to remain anonymous, agreed: "The police would have had to have used force to get access and this could have led to violence and damage to the forest. How much would that have cost?"

Good condition

"They blocked the entrances to prevent more people from entering and kept a watchful eye on things - to ensure no irregularities were occurring. In my opinion, they did the right thing."

The rave, which saw one drug-related arrest, has attracted controversy.

Revellers have disputed locals' claims that they were disturbed by noise, and said the site was left clean and tidy.

Police have confirmed that a deal was struck with the revellers, so the second night was quieter than the first.

The Forestry Commission complained a fence on a grazing experiment had been cut - which could have led to cattle escaping onto the A4 - but confirmed the site was left in a generally good condition.