Subject: Riot police tackle 'illegal' rave in High Holborn

Hundreds of people have been attending a suspected illegal rave in central London after a stand-off between revellers and riot police.

Several officers were hurt trying to disperse the gathering at a disused building in High Holborn, police said. At least seven arrests have been made.

The Metropolitan Police said bricks were thrown at officers as they tried to disperse revellers.

Police have surrounded the eight-storey building.

Elements of the estimated crowd of 500 people became aggressive after officers asked them to move on, police said.

Dozens of riot squad officers from the force's Territorial Support Group were then called to the scene.

A force spokesman said: "Most of the people are still there. They have gone back inside the building and are going ahead with the rave.

"Officers at the scene have a watching brief."

One police officer needed hospital treatment for a minor head injury, while a woman in her 30s who police said was caught up in the disorder was also taken to hospital with a cut face.

A number of buildings and vehicles were damaged during the disturbance, and road closures are in place around the site.

Police were first called to the building, which is bordered by High Holborn, Museum Road and New Oxford Street, at 2320 BST