A RAFT of boy racers are going to face the full force of the law after again racing around roads at Lakeside.

Police used unmarked cars fitted with video recording equipment to catch more than 60 drivers who were drifting and road racing at speeds of up to 80mph on a dual carriageway stretch near the shopping centre on Saturday night.

As on many other occasions in recent months, drivers came from all over the region and raced eachother as spectators perched on kerbs, with speeding cars passing perilously close to them.

Cruisers then uploaded videos to You Tube showing the full extent of the danger posed to members of the public.

One video even mocked covert police operation, describing officers in unmarked cars as "bacon in undie cars", adding that "everyone did a good job of spotting and letting racers know".

Offenders have been identified through vehicle index numbers and will be summonsed to court for a number of different road violations.

Sgt Simon Willsher, who led the investigation, said: “Cruiser events in Essex are usually good-natured and enjoyed by hundreds of enthusiasts who meet to show off their cars and talk about their hobby.

“But there is always the minority of drivers who take part in illegal street racing and drifting events, putting their own lives and the lives of spectators at risk.

“On Saturday night at Lakeside cars were racing at up to 80mph along a section of road that has a 40mph limit. These speeding cars were passing only inches from spectators who had no crash barriers or railings to protect them had any of those cars crashed out of control.

“We will continue to act robustly to deal with drivers who break the law while taking part in these events.”

 

*WARNING, THE VIDEO BELOW CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE*