Officers are targeting cars speeding in Hedge End after residents complained speeding cars were 'wreaking havoc'

Fed up with being woken up in the early hours by boy racers revving their engines loudly and racing their cars down a 30mph stretch of road, residents in Hedge End have called on the police to take action.

So officers have made it their mission to stamp out antisocial driving in Maunsell Way, and they now have the power to seize vehicles from persistent offenders.

Police have issued a section 59 warning in the area, which means they can take cars from anyone who is caught driving in a careless or inconsiderate manner, or in a way that is likely to cause alarm or distress to residents.

Vehicle nuisance posters have been placed around Maunsell Way, with many of them outside Berrywood Primary School.

Berrywood Primary School

Concerned residents are relieved that police are taking action on nuisance drivers, especially with so many families living in the area.

One mum, who lives just off Maunsell Way, said: “It is really bad around here, especially in the middle of night. It seems to be boy racers who are causing it.

“I always hear them revving their engines and showing off their cars and at 1am and 2am in the morning you can hear them.

“Sometimes they drive down Maunsell Way at least 40 to 60mph.”

Another woman who has been actively campaigning in the area added: “It is horrible.

“The noise of them revving their engines is keeping me and my children up at night and something needs to be done.”

PCSO Marc Vincent is one of those officers taking part in the crackdown and is urging residents who see motorists driving erratically in the area to contact police by calling 101.

During just one night police out on patrol spoke to 12 people driving too quickly along Maunsell Way, and in the past three months there have been 25 reports of vehicle nuisance and speeding in that area.

Derek Pretty, councillor for Grange Park East, said: “It has always been a bit of a racetrack in Hedge End.

“People always tend to be a bit faster coming on to the road and some often forget that it is a 30mph speed limit, while others just ignore it.

“I know that there have been problems with boy racers in Hedge End, but not usually on Maunsell Way.

“It is a concern if this is now a regular occurrence.”