REPORTS of a mass brawl at Whitemead Forest Park on Christmas Day were wildly exaggerated, according the Inspector for the Forest of Dean.

Inspector Andrew Hodgetts also stated that neither Parkend or Lydney were on lockdown as publicised on social media and some sections of the press.

Gloucestershire Police and the Forest of Dean Community Safety Partnership carried out an investigation into reports of anti-social behaviour by a group of around 40 men, women and children who booked Whitemead on December 23.

Both investigations conclude that the scale of the incident had been exaggerated and blown up out of all proportion.

Inspector Hodgetts said that Gloucestershire Constabulary investigation revealed that there had been a large amount of misinformation appearing on social media and in some elements of the press.

He said: “It appears following our investigation that the police were used as an excuse to close the doors of various establishments.

"The police did not order any pubs to close. The decision by pubs in deciding whether to open or not was left to the discretion of the licensee.

"However the perception by the public of this ’police excuse’ resulted in the rumour that both Parkend and Lydney were on lock down, which absolutely did not happen."

He added: “This incident demonstrates that there is a big difference between crime and the fear of crime. Gloucestershire Constabulary will therefore continue to work with Whitemead to minimise the risk of similar incidents happening in the future.”