Police called after car meet at Winchester Sainsbury's car park

Residents reported hearing loud revving noises and saw speeding cars late on Saturday night heading towards Badger Farm Road.

Staff at Sainsbury's in Badger Farm Road said they were prevented from leaving the car park after their shifts as at least 20 cars started to fill the car park at around 11.15pm, with another 30 seen headed towards the area.

Some social media reports state that there were more than 250 cars in attendance at the meeting, which lasted until the early hours.

READ MORE: Row breaks out over car meets in Southampton

One concerned staff member said: "It was frustrating as a colleague trying to get home because I couldn't leave because of the cars coming in.

"They weren't keeping to the road markings, and some were not travelling slowly, and they were parking across the car parking spaces.

"It's not great for the residents either, with all the cars making revving noises."

Sainsbury's Badger Farm. Picture by Google Maps

They said that it was one of the first times a car meet of that type had taken place at that particular car park.

Other residents took to social media to vent their frustrations, as well as reporting the matter to police.

People from across Winchester reported being disturbed by the noise.

One said: "I could hear a six cylinder car doing a burnout in the distance from Headbourne Worthy."

Another said: "One of them has just come past my house so fast they almost lost control of the car. It stinks of burning rubber in the air outside!"

This latest meeting follows a series of anti-social car meets across the county, thought to be organised out by the same group, which arranges its meetings via Snapchat.

Hampshire police has previously issued dispersal orders for car parks and industrial estates in Nursling, Calmore and Hedge End.

It has also worked with Sainsbury's in Kempshott, Basingstoke, to get CCTV installed in a bid to stop the meetings happening there after scores of residents complained about the noise and anti-social behaviour.

SEE ALSO: Police put plans in place ahead of 'proposed car meet' in Southampton

More than 200 people signed a petition to get the cameras put in after the meetings happened across weekends in February and earlier this month.

Hampshire Constabulary said they received a number of reports from approximately 11.20pm onwards relating to a large gathering of vehicles in the Sainsbury's car park on Badger Farm Road.

Police were told that the vehicles were involved in anti-social behaviour which was causing concern to local residents.

They said that when police attended, the vehicles began to leave and officers continued patrols in Winchester through the evening to ensure there was no further disruption to the public or risk to road users.

Chief Inspector Chris Spellerberg, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: "We recognise the majority of car enthusiasts are law abiding, passionate about their vehicles and want to come together as a community to display them.

"However, these events are unauthorised and un-licensed, and 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.

"Hampshire Constabulary will not allow such behaviour to go unchallenged and we ask all drivers to act responsibly and drive safely. We will take action, making use of available legislation which can include seizing vehicles, penalty notices, notifying insurance companies, dispersal notices or arrest and prosecution if necessary.

"We will review incidents and reports of anti-social or dangerous driving linked to car meetings, including mobile phone footage, footage from dash-cams and CCTV, and Body Worn Video footage from officers, to identify offences.

"Where there is evidence of offences, we will take further action.

"We would like to reassure our communities that we continue to proactively monitor information and intelligence, and work closely with partners and landowners.

"We would also remind organisers of events that they must seek permission of the landowner and the district or city council beforehand."