BOY racers who use a town's multi-storey car park to perform dangerous stunts could have their cars confiscated by police.Insp Mick Marriott from Newmarket police said the clampdown at the town's Rookery car park follows complaints about young drivers who are a particular menace at night.

BOY racers who use a town's multi-storey car park to perform dangerous stunts could have their cars confiscated by police.

Insp Mick Marriott from Newmarket police said the clampdown at the town's Rookery car park follows complaints about young drivers who are a particular menace at night.

Antics include handbrake turns and wheelspins, which have damaged the surface of the car park.

Mr Marriott said: "Under new legislation provided by the Police Reform Act, police now have the power, ultimately, to take their vehicles away.

"We regularly receive complaints from the public and reports from Forest Heath District Council's CCTV staff, of vehicles being driven inappropriately in the car park."

He said drivers would be warned initially but more drastic action would follow any repetition.

"If the manner of driving is deemed to be 'alarming, harassing or distressing', we will initially warn the drivers. If drivers do not heed these warnings, then have no doubt, positive action will follow."

Mr Marriott said police could immediately confiscate vehicles, which could only be returned on payment of a £105 fine, a penalty charge and £12 for every day that the car is in police hands.

If after 21 days the vehicle had still to be reclaimed, it would be sold at public auction.

"Our aim is to encourage greater use of the car park during the evening by visitors to the town. We intend to have an impact by doing everything possible to discourage a minority of irresponsible drivers from using it," Mr Marriott added.

The Newmarket initiative follows a crackdown on boy racers in Mildenhall's Recreation Way car park, where concrete posts and barriers were installed to stop it being used as a racetrack. A similar initiative has also been launched in Bury St Edmunds.