Some 90 people were detained for public intoxication, while a further five or six people were arrested for assault in the university city located 70 kilometres north of Stockholm.

“We’re used to it, but there has been more than usual this year,” said police officer Mats Öjedahl.

“It’s chaos here. Aside from drunkenness, fighting and assault, we have had an attempted rape on Bellmansgatan where a woman was pulled into the bushes but managed to tear herself free.”

Police in Stockholm also reported a busy shift on a night renowned for its annual excesses.

“There’s an awful lot of drunkenness,” said police officer Maria Hugols. “We’ve been picking up drunken youngsters all over the place.”

However, police in many other parts of the country said the Walpurgis Night celebrations had not led to an upsurge in unruly behaviour.

“We thought it would be a lot worse,” said police officer Ingemar Johansson in Gothenburg. “It has been fairly reasonable. There’s been some drunkenness and fighting, but tell me a Walpurgis Night when there hasn’t been fighting.”

Police in Gotland were pleased that the situation on the Baltic Sea island appeared calmer than usual.

“It has absolutely been quieter than it usually is. A very good Walpurgis Night,” said a spokesperson.