Police have released a gallery of 133 reckless ravers who are wanted after a Tudor-era church was trashed during a booze and hippy crack-fuelled lockdown party.
Images of the revellers who descended on All Saints Church, in East Horndon, Essex, for the illegal party have been made public in a bid to slap them with fines.
The pictures capture youngsters huffing on what appear to be hippy crack balloons, clutching bottles of spirits, gurning and even wearing shades at night.
Police are now hunting the partygoers who broke into the 500-year-old building on New Year’s Eve, despite the county being hit with strict Tier 4 regulations.
Chief Inspector Ant Alcock, District Commander for Brentwood and Epping Forest, said: ‘Issuing these images is an unusual step but it highlights the seriousness of the incident and public health threat it posed.
‘At the time this event took place Essex was under Tier 4 regulations, infections were rising quickly, a ‘major incident’ had been declared here because of the pressure on our NHS, and nationally there were around 50,000 positive tests a day.
‘This event wasn’t just a clear and blatant breach of the Government’s Covid-19 regulations but a very real public health risk as well as a slap in the face to all those making sacrifices to do the right thing.
‘At a time where doctors and nurses were under extreme pressure trying to save lives and people all over the county were spending Christmas away from their loved ones, those who attended the event acted selfishly, putting themselves and their families health at risk.
‘Added to that is the damage they caused to the church itself – at Christmas too.
‘You cannot come to Essex and do that, we will not tolerate it.
‘If you attended the event or recognise any of those pictured, now is the time to do the right thing.’
Four people have been arrested in connection with the event and another, a 32-year-old man from Wickford, was given a £10,000 fine after admitting being an organiser.
Anyone who attended the event and who is identified will be fined.
In the wake of the party a fundraising drive was launched to repair the church which suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage.
The volunteers that spearheaded the clean-up and fundraising campaign to repair it were presented with an award for their work.
The Rev’d Canon Paul Hamilton MA and Astrid Gillespie have been awarded the Digital Heritage Hero Award at the Heritage Hero Awards in recognition of their ‘exceptional’ service to the UK’s heritage sector.
A crowdfunder set up by the Friends of All Saints group raised over £20,000 towards the clean-up, repairs and security of the church.
Speaking about the award, Ms Gillespie, who is part of the Friends of All Saints group, said: ‘It means so much to all of us from the Friends of All Saints Church to have been given this award and to have the support of The Heritage Alliance.
‘We have been overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone who has been involved in helping us to raise money for us to repair the damage at the church.
‘It’s been a very difficult year and we’ve needed heroes more than ever.’