FARMLAND was left in a state after up to 200 GCSE pupils celebrating the end of their exams held a party at the top of Roundway Hill near Devizes.

It is thought the party got out of hand after social media messages reached students celebrating finishing school.

Farmer Matthew Winter has spoken out against the dangers of drinking on the private farming land, which can only be reached by walking for a mile and is close to a sheer drop.

Had an accident had occurred emergency services would have struggled to get to the party scene, he believes.

Mr Winter, 36, cleared four big black bags of cans and bottles after the incident that led to police being called out on Friday night.

The historic land, where Oliver Cromwell fought the Battle of Roundway in 1643, is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Mr Winter said: “I saw some torches at the top of the hill and thought they were dog walkers but then as time went on there were a few more torches so I decided to go up and have a look. At 11pm and there were 50-60 GCSE students. It seems like word got out through social media and soon after there were about 200 people up there.

“My wife phoned the police at 11.45pm and after an hour of waiting for the police I went up there. I asked them to leave and some of them did get up and leave but there was a group of them left.

“I didn’t want to challenge them more because I was on my own and there was a big group of them. It was more for their safety because if they had run off there is a sheer drop not very far away and they could have really hurt themselves.

“Apparently parents had been dropping them off at the site so they knew where they were going.

Following the incident Mr Winter urged parents not to let children take part in group gatherings in remote areas.