POLICE shut a village road on Friday night as they were called to deal with hundreds of teenage partygoers for the second time in as many weeks.

About 200 young people attended the party in Wincham, a similar number to those who converged on a party in Hartford the previous week.

Whereas a large number of the teenagers at Hartford were drunk, the vast majority of those at Wincham were well-behaved.

However they put themselves in danger by walking to the party, held in a field off Linnards Lane, down an unlit section of the road, sparking calls to police from concerned motorists.

Following the Hartford party police urged people not to advertise house parties on Facebook after more than 200 turned up when the party was advertised on social media.

That advice fell on deaf ears at Wincham, with the 30 young people who were invited to the party turning into 200 after it was posted on Facebook.

Although the police faced fewer problems on Friday night than at Hartford several dozen youths hung around the play area in Linnards Lane, smashing bottles and leaving litter.

Sue Lawson, from Linnards Lane, and fellow Wincham resident Pamela Lavers undertake regular litter picks in the village, and collected six bags on Saturday from Linnards Lane, twice the usual amount.

“There were broken and intact bottles, cans, plastic bottles of drink, cigarette and crisp packets, and about 10 unmatched shoes, boots, slippers and trainers,” said Sue.

“There were thrown in the hedge, one was up a tree, and we also found a bin bag full of bottles of urine, probably thrown out of a lorry, which was disgusting.”

PC Frank Lea from Northwich Police said: “The first call we got was at 8.20pm from a motorist who said there was a large party in one of the fields off Linnards Lane.

“The youths were walking down the road to the party in the dark, as that section of Linnards Lane is unlit.

“Within 20 minutes we had two calls from members of the public about youths walking in the road.”

Police attended, and decided to close the unlit section from its junctions with the A556 and Keats Lane to enable the teenagers to attend and leave the party safely, and the road was reopened at about 11pm.

“At about 10.20pm we got a report from a nearby resident about noise and car horns and youths hanging around the gate of the field,” added PC Lea.

“We had no problem with the majority of the youths, who were fine, but between 20 and 30 hung around afterwards on the play area shouting and smashing bottles.”

He said the event was an organised party at a barn owned by the organiser’s grandfather, and the teenage partygoers were aged between 14 and 20.

“We spoke to the party organiser, who has held parties there previously but not for a couple of years, and I would guess someone has made a throwaway comment on Facebook about going to this party on that evening,” he said.

The police contacted Cheshire West and Chester Council about the smashed bottles and litter on the play area.

Wincham Parish Council chairman Annie Makepeace said she had no problem with people enjoying themselves until it caused problems for residents.

“When it involves broken glass which could cut a child or an animal we have to be concerned,” she said.

She added that there were no pavements on the section of Linnards Lane beyond Keats Lane, and the council had succeeded this year in having the speed limit reduced approaching the village.