POPLEY residents have reacted in anger after hearing news that a house party was broken up by police last night.

Officers were called to Guernsey Close at just after 8.30pm following multiple reports of a house party.

The six revellers, from different households, claimed they were unaware of the pandemic and surrounding social distancing rules because they "don't watch the news".

After hearing the news on Sunday morning, hundreds of people have hit out at the party-goers on social media, under the story on the Gazette as well as the police's social media pages.

One resident in Popley labelled the party "totally irresponsible".

Mr Noble, who lives nearby, told The Gazette: "I think that is totally irresponsible that people should even consider it, let alone do it.

"They are not only putting other people's lives in danger, they are putting their own lives in danger.

"They haven't got much respect for their own life let alone other people's.

"It hits people of all ages, not just the elderly.

"[If they contract coronavirus,] even if they do survive there is long Covid and they could be left completely crippled for the rest of their life.

"This is something they should take into consideration when holding those parties.

"It might make them think twice if they came into contact with somebody who has been through that."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said that "you are going to get people that always think about themselves".

"I heard some people running up and down [last night] but I didn't think much of it."

A third resident, who heard about the party on social media but did not know it was in the same area as her, added: "It is not good.

"Everyone is staying in, not doing anything and then you get selfish people doing that which means it is going on even longer.

"We didn't hear it but I saw someone posting on Facebook that there was a party in Basingstoke.

"I think it is ridiculous that they got away with it by saying they don't watch the news."

Police confirmed that they were called to shut down the six-person party, and added that "an investigation is underway with a view to reporting the individuals for summons [in court] following a Covid breach".

Posting to Twitter, a force spokesman added the hashtag “there are no words” to describe the incident.

The force’s social media posts about the incident have been widely shared by hundreds of people, attracting dozens of comments.

Many questioned the force about the action taken against the alleged party hosts.

Under coronavirus laws police have the power to issue fixed penalty notices of £200 to first-time offenders, and fixed penalty notices of up to £10,000 for holding or being involved in the holding of an unlawful gathering.