SOUTH Essex proved to be a hotbed for acid house raves in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The emergence of the acid house genre of music in the mid-to-late eighties gave birth to a whole new kind of party culture.

For a generation of clubbers, the late 1980s and early 1990s resulted in many weekends being spent meeting up in meadows, fields and rusty warehouses to party with like-minded people.

Our glorious county hosted a number of raves, including in Southend and Old Leighs.

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Throwing shapes - enthusiastic youngsters at a rave in Great Leighs in 1991

These snaps from the Echo archive show just how popular the events were back in the day, although the police were sometimes called to the scene.

Essex dance groups made a significant impact on the rave scene, with N-Joi, Sunscreem and, of course, The Prodigy keeping ravers on their feet.

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Enforcement - Essex Police on hand to shut down a rave in Southend in 1989

The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, introduced in 1994, ultimately affected the rave culture’s popularity as new laws made it easier for police to shut down parties.

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Scroll down to see more eye-catching images of acid house raves in south Essex.

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Behind the barrier - partygoers did not need to adhere to social distancing guidelines when they headed to Essex Arena, Purfleet, in December 1992

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Getting into trouble - police shut down a rave at Fairlawns Farm, Rayleigh, in September 1991

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Retro advertisements - acid house posters in the late 1980s and early 1990s

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Making themselves heard - revellers come together at an acid house rave held in south Essex in May 1991

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Can be seen for miles - a raver gets into character by donning a fancy dress costume at the Great Leighs Pop Festival 1991

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Checking in - police at an event in Great Leighs in 1991

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Bopping to the music - ravers at an acid house gathering held in Essex in May 1991

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Following an eventful evening - the aftermath of an Essex rave