RESIDENTS in Romsey have called for more police presence after a spate of car meets, which have attracted hundreds of racers and caused anti-social behaviour.

Last weekend, two car parks in Hampshire saw more than 400 cars meet up, with vehicles reaching speeds of up to 140mph before a drug-driving arrest.

Cars from around Hampshire meet up most weekends in car parks in Havant, Farlington, Southampton and Romsey.

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On previous occasions, when police issue dispersal notices, the meetings have moved to Romsey - something which residents are now calling for help to prevent.

Ben Chambers, 31, from Romsey said: "They're a nuisance. I live right on the cross roads where a lot of the traffic converges and most weekend they do "burn outs" and meet at Waitrose car park. I can smell the burning rubber from my house. I've got a cat which I'm concerned about. You can hear them normally on Friday nights, just after 10pm until midnight. I have a window open and it keeps me up at night.

"I've heard they have moved to Romsey because they shut the industrial estates in Southampton, so they're just moving place to place. One phone call to the police should be enough to shut them down."

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A police spokesperson said: "We recognise the majority of car enthusiasts are law-abiding people who are passionate about their vehicles and want to come together as a community to display them. However, these events are unauthorised and unlicensed.

"At previous meets a minority of attendees have displayed anti-social behaviour, including noise nuisance and driving at excessive and dangerous speeds.

"This has caused disruption and disturbance to residents and presents an unacceptable risk to public safety."

Romsey councillor, Nick Adams-King said: “I’m grateful to Test Valley Police for taking the recent car meets so seriously and for their implementation of dispersal orders in Nursling to address the car meet issues there.

"The problem of course is that in doing that they move the car meets elsewhere. I very much hope they keep track of where the meets are occurring and continue to shut down the opportunity for these events that cause so much disruption, disturbance and damage, particularly if they re-occur around Romsey."

Officers in Hampshire were called to Asda in Havant on Saturday, January 29, then the cars moved onto Sainsbury's car park in Farlington.

Two drivers were reported for careless driving, two were fined for number plate offences and two were issued with S59 warnings, meaning police can seize their vehicles if they continue to commit anti-social behaviour.

Chief Inspector Chris Spellerberg, of Hampshire Police’s roads policing unit, said: "We know these events can be of great concern to the local community due to the noise, anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving.

"The majority of car enthusiasts want to meet because they are passionate about their hobby, however as last night’s activity demonstrates there are a minority who cause disruption and put members of the public at serious risk.

“By travelling at extremely high speeds and under the influence of drugs, you could kill someone, including yourself. This behaviour is simply not acceptable."

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Kimberley Barber