I’M so sorry.

Those were the words of the organiser of a charity barn dance that ended in chaos with dozens of police breaking up an illegal rave.

Gus Jones spoke out today as he reflected on the night he will remember for all the wrong reasons.

The event – inside a marquee on his dad’s farm – was meant to raise money for a children’s park in a tiny village.

But what started out as an invitation only event quickly spiralled out of control after details of the event was spread across the Internet.

Scores of gatecrashers led to Hampshire’s 999 control room being flooded with calls from angry residents complaining about the noise and a trail of smashed bottles around the site.

Paramedics had to deal with numerous young people who were so drunk they needed medical treatment. A young woman and a 17-yearold boy had to be taken to hospital after Saturday night’s event.

Police finally closed it down at 4am on Sunday.

Today Gus, 32, apologised for the chaos which saw riot vans and ambulances descend on Tote Hill, usually a tranquil backwater near the Hampshire village of Sherfield English.

He said: “I am sorry that the police and the ambulance crews had to waste their time and I am sorry that I upset the neighbours because it was not what we wanted to do.

“We even sent leaflets telling them what our aims were in terms of the playground.

“It was so professional and we had spent months organising it.

“All we wanted to do was raise some money.”

Gus, who lives in the village of West Dean on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border, said he had wanted to raise money for a new children’s play park there as well as giving local teenagers the chance to help organise and DJ at the event.

He said plans had been progressing “amazingly”

– until some of the partygoers posted details of the party online.

He said: “I don’t know how but it went viral.”

Hundreds of college students from all over the county made their way to the event after details were posted on social networking websites Facebook and Twitter.

Many congregated outside the site when they were refused entry which Gus thinks may have added to the noise and disruption which eventually saw the police being called.

Police set up a blockade to stop more revellers getting to the site before getting the music turned off and dispersing the crowd.

A spokesman for West Dean Playground Committee has denied all knowledge of the party.