LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (UPI) -- Police in Laguna Niguel, Calif., said they were forced to bring an end to the yearly "mooning" of Amtrak trains after a crowd of 8,000 people got out of hand.

"We had some mooners and some female flashers and some people who were nude altogether," said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. "There was also lots of drinking. We felt that it was in the public's interest to shut it down."

Participants left the area Saturday afternoon after at least 50 officers showed up, the Los Angeles Times reported. Police said they did not have to make any arrests.

Some people said they think authorities overreacted to a harmless event.

"What was the point of stopping people from enjoying themselves when they were under control? Everybody was getting along," first-time mooner Robert Zoellner, 47, said.