BOY racers targetting Colne and Nelson for late-night ‘rallies' are being warned by police their cars will be impounded if they continue.

Illegal car ‘cruises' have been taking place at North Valley Retail Park, in Colne, and the Tesco store car park in Nelson at weekends.

Residents and councillors have also reported vehicles being driven at high speed between the two towns, using Leeds Road, Nelson and Burnley Road, Colne, as a ‘drag strip’ in the early hours.

Police are now cracking down on the problem with an operation targetting ‘cruisers' and have warned drivers they face having their cars seized.

Already a dozen prohibition notices have been served on young drivers who had assembled for a meeting at North Valley to stop them reassembling.

Police said the motorists had been 'wheel-spinning' their cars and driving inconsiderately near the McDonalds drive-thru restaurant.

When officers warnings were ignored, the silver MG ZS car of a 22-year-old from Trawden was impounded.

He was also reported for summons for dangerous driving, said Sgt Andy Cartwright, of Colne Police.

Problems with boy racers were also raised at a Lancashire County Council 'Question Time' style event for cabinet members at Christ Church in Nelson.

Councillors heard that the main thoroughfare between the Tesco store in Nelson and the North Valley retail park in Colne was being used by speeding motorists at around 1am to 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Mohammed Akhtar, who lives off Leeds Road, said at the meeting: "I have repeatedly reported the speed at which motorists are travelling along Leeds Road, to the police and the borough council. They use the roads as a drag strip.

“What are they going to do about this problem before we have a fatality on this road?”

Another resident, in her 40s, who spoke at the meeting but asked not to be named, said: “They set off from the Tesco car park in Nelson and drive down the main road.

“They know there is very little police presence about two or three o’clock in the morning because they are dealing with what happens in the town centres.”

Councillors heard that another favourite meeting place was near St Mary’s Church, in Manchester Road, on the other side of Nelson town centre.”

Sgt Cartwright said further operations were planned to back up the anti-cruising drive and driver’s vehicles would be impounded if they ignored notices.He added: “We have been working closely with McDonald's after concerns were raised at a recent police community action meeting on the North Valley estate.

“These notices should serve as a warning to motorists who are meeting up on the retail park and driving around in an inconsiderate manner."

Sgt Gareth Hill, of the Pennine road policing unit at Colne, added: “We habitually ask our local officers, when they are not dealing with collisions, to check these kinds of areas out and attempt to dissuade drivers from carrying out this kind of behaviour.”