POLICE intent on clamping down on noisy boy racers in Christchurch have been targeting the nuisance motorists in Highcliffe, Walkford and Saxon Square.

An operation designed to stamp out the noisy and intrusive sound of the boy racers’ engines was held last week in response to concerns from the community.

Drivers in modified vehicles with body kits and after-fit exhausts were targeted and stopped in roadside checks.

Around 25 per cent of the 30 vehicles stopped in the one-day operation were found to have defects and issued with a VDRS notice.

Last year, Christchurch borough councillors called for improved measures to catch the boy racers using the cliff-top car park in Highcliffe as a race track.

The idea of CCTV linked to the local police station was mooted as well as a barrier to prevent the youngsters from getting in.

PC Justin Clarke from Highcliffe Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “This has been a hugely successful operation; we have addressed the issue head-on, which members of our community have told us they are concerned about.

“Antisocial driving can encompass careless driver behaviour to deliberate anti-social activity.

“It not only affects road safety but also the quality of life in the local neighbourhood.”

PCSO Mark Lane, also from the Highcliffe SNT, added: “CCTV is one of the issues being looked at for the future.

“We would urge people to ring us with any incident of this nature as it could go some way towards getting specific measures in place.”

Cllr Sally Derham-Wilkes, chairman of Christchurch council’s community services committee, said: “I fully support the work the police are doing to help keep our roads safe.

“In recent months we have carried out a number of speed and traffic surveys throughout the borough to help identify roads which are in most need of traffic calming projects and we will be carrying out a number of them in the near future.”