Residents in a sleepy village were left stunned after more than 500 swingers arrived on their doorstep for a weekend festival.

The third 'Swingfields' festival took place in the little village of Flaxey, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, over the course of the weekend.

But the event, dubbed the biggest in the swinging calendar, was a complete shock to the 30 or so residents who live in the area.

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Sex party: Cars, camper vans and tents gather at the Forest of Dean for the swinging festival

The event, dubbed the biggest in the swinging calendar, was a complete shock to the 30 or so residents who live in the area

Complaint: Some locals said the noise was 'intolerable' and that they should have been warned in advance

They knew nothing about it - until hundreds of swingers arrived with their tents, vans and cars.

Some said the noise was 'intolerable' and that they should have been warned in advance.

One said: 'It was quite a shock when we went down to the gates on Thursday night to ask them to keep the music down.

'Let's just say when we saw a banner with the words '3 is the magic number' and a variety of interesting images we knew this wasn't just your usual music festival.'

Another villager added: 'The fact is, it is not even about the nature of the festival as people can do what they like in private.

'It's the noise which has just been intolerable. It has been 48 hours of hell. I have had just four hours of sleep since Thursday.

'We keep going to ask the organisers to turn the music down and have contacted Environmental Health and the police but nothing has been done.'

Another said: 'It's absolutely awful. This is taking it too far. I don't think it should be happening.

'There must be a thousand people there, it's ridiculous. It is just wrong on a moralistic ground.'

Festival goers began arriving on the site at midday on Thursday and had to leave the area by 2pm today.

The location was kept a secret from ticket holders until two days before the festival began to ensure it remained 'discreet and secure'.

In the dark: Residents say they knew nothing about the event - until hundreds of swingers arrived with their tents, vans and cars

As well as three days of live music Swingfields 2015 promised attendees a themed zone, hot tubs and a sauna, a chill pool, workshops, live shows and stalls selling adult toys

Shock venue: A double-decker bus is used as a bar at the third 'Swingfields' festival in Gloucestershire

Quaint: The church in Flaxey, Gloucestershire near the site of a massive weekend-long sex festival

However this also meant people living nearby were also unaware about what was coming to their village.

Though some residents complained about the loud music, others said that was not the biggest problem they were facing.

We returned home to discover an intruder in our garden trying to break into the festival

One villager said: 'We returned home from an evening bike ride on Friday night to discover an intruder in our garden trying to break into the festival.

'I was absolutely terrified we didn't know who he was or what he wanted so I called 999.

'Thankfully as soon as he saw us he ran off but now I'm quite concerned about who might be coming onto my land.'

As well as three days of live music Swingfields 2015 promised attendees a themed zone, hot tubs and a sauna, a chill pool, workshops, live shows and stalls selling adult toys.

People who attended the festival were able to camp or stay in a camper van for the duration of the event.

Another neighbour added: 'The fact that people can come into our village without any regard for our community which includes a large number of young families is just repulsive.'

The Swingfields festival started in July 2013 and has been running annually since.

Previously it has taken place in Worcestershire but moved to the new location in Flaxley, Gloucestershire this year.