POLICE are ramping up patrols in car-meet “hotspot” areas after more than 150 cars gathered in a supermarket carpark.

The unauthorised gathering, which took place at Morrisons in Spruce Drive, Totton, has sparked complaints about “anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving”.

Police confirmed to the Daily Echo that around 150 vehicles were in attendance at the meet on January 2.

Locals say they had to put up with the sound of revving engines and honking horns, plus a “haze of smoke” drifting over the neighbourhood.

Now residents are urging Morrisons to keep the car park locked at night to prevent any similar incidents in the future.

Officers have confirmed they will now increase presence across “hotspot” areas in Totton and Calmore.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary said: “We fully appreciate that incidents such as these cause a nuisance to local residents and business owners, with increased levels of noise and associated anti-social behaviour.

“Our officers will continue to have an increased presence across hotspot areas in Totton and Calmore to deter events such as these large-scale car meets from taking place in the future.

“If we encounter these events, we will do our utmost to educate those in attendance and take robust enforcement action where necessary.

“As always, if you see anything suspicious, please report it to police by calling 101 or via the Hampshire Constabulary website. Dial 999 if it is an emergency.

The car meet followed similar incidents at the nearby Calmore Industrial Estate last year in the summer.