BOY racers are terrorising residents after turning a quiet car park into the scene of their high-speed "cruise" contests.

They have targeted the car park at Saunders Park Industrial Estate in Lewes Road, Brighton, where Halfords and B&Q have stores.

They moved there after police closed Madeira Drive, the usual venue for their regular monthly races.

More than 200 drivers in around 50 cars gathered at the Lewes Road car park and raced around at speeds of up to 60mph, smashing into parked cars and damaging them.

Now residents at the nearby Saunders Park Estate, which backs on to the car park, are living in fear of the racers returning next month.

Jeanne Burns, of Saunders Park Rise, said: "It was horrendous. They were driving so fast over speed humps and banging into cars. How there wasn't a serious accident I'll never know."

"It started at about 8pm and went on for nearly four hours. I tried to watch TV but the noise was unbelievable. They had really loud stereos blaring out and the noise of engines was deafening."

Police have launched a campaign called Operation Rugby to put the brakes on the monthly "cruise", which is advertised on the Internet. They take place at venues across the south each weekend, coming to Brighton on the second Saturday of every month.

Apolice spokesman said: "We are aware of the problems at the Saunders car park. We had at least nine calls that night from residents who were disturbed.

"There was very little we could do though as it is private property. It causes a massive problem in the area and is extremely dangerous."

Doug Wilson, from the Saunders Park resident's association, said: "My fear is that they are going to go through the fence and end up in one of our gardens."

Last November the racers caused mayhem after turning their attention to the Asda car park at Brighton Marina. Hundreds of pounds damage was caused to parked cars.

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