KENT Police have denied allegations that officers used brutal tactics at an illegal rave.

Ravers at the party at Endings Wood at

Torry Hill, Kingsdown, Kingsdown, near Sittingbourne, at the weekend claimed officers were kicking and punching girls in the head and "indiscriminately beating people".

But David Ainsworth, Kent's assistant chief constable, refuted the allegations. He said that about 55 officers attended the incident but out of the 300 revellers only three were arrested.

"That doesn't sound like an excessive use of force in my view," he stressed. "Most of the people, and the organisers themselves, complied with the requirement of the law to actually shut the event down."

Police say they had come under missile attack and they had to use police dogs to help them disperse the crowd.

Three men who were arrested have been bailed pending further inquiries.

One of the revellers at the event told the BBC that he was now using crutches after he was allegedly hit with a police baton.

Daniel, from Canterbury, said: "I saw one of my friends pushed onto the floor and literally being stamped on by the police.

"I dived down to try and help him up and... I was hit across my right knee with a metal baton."

He claimed a friend was also knocked unconscious with a baton and then kicked while she was on the ground.

Police say several people had refused to leave the event despite repeated requests.

"Officers, originally in flat caps, came under missile attack and police dogs were deployed to clear a space in order that they could equip themselves and put helmets on," a statement said.

"Some of those present were punching, spitting, kicking and assaulting officers," it went on.

The force said medical assistance was offered to a woman with an asthmatic condition, but no other medical issues were brought to their attention.

It said all complaints were taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.