Covert cameras are to be used to tackle nuisance drivers who are keeping up residents in St Ives with night-time racing and stunts.

More than 100 cars have been heading to the Somersham Road Industrial Estate over the last few weekends, with some drivers revving their engines loudly, screeching tyres along the road and performing ‘donuts’ and ‘burn outs’ as well as littering and causing damage.

Leslie Fisk, 67, who lives nearby, said: “It seems to be happening more and more often. They are racing and screeching their tyres, they just don’t care about how they affect us.

“We can’t get to sleep, you just lay awake in bed just waiting for them to stop, but it seems to go on for ages.

“You can’t open your windows as the noise is too loud but it’s very hot at the moment which keeps you up even more.

“It was surprising that they were here on Sunday night because it’s normally on a Friday and Saturday night.”

Jacky Nevin, 52, who also lives near the industrial estate, added: “You just can’t go to sleep.

“It’s even worse for me because I am ill, and when I can’t sleep I just get sicker and sicker.

“They should have a lot more respect for people living nearby.”

Sergeant Andrew Street said officers would be using a range of tactics to deter drivers as well as taking action on those caught driving anti-socially.

He added: “Many of the cars that are taken along are high-performance models and the drivers use the roads on the estate to race each other and perform stunts. This type of driving is extremely dangerous and could easily result in someone being killed or seriously injured.

“We are taking these reports very seriously.

“In the past we have attended the industrial estate and taken action against anyone when we have had evidence to do so, but we have been unable to prevent the gatherings from occurring.

“We will now be taking a much firmer line and utilising covert CCTV in order to gain evidence to prosecute offenders and seize vehicles driven in an anti-social manner. We are also seeking to get a dispersal order granted.”