Illicit rally venue switches after police block car park

The unauthorised event, which involves drivers racing each other at speed and carrying out dangerous stunts, was organised on the Internet.

The rally was due to take place in the car park at Morton Park, Darlington, on Saturday night.

But traffic police heard about the event and closed the car park as dozens of cars started arriving.

The drivers then set off in convoy to gather in the car park at Teesside Park, Stockton, where there were 150 to 200 cars.

A witness said: "At Teesside Park, someone let off some fireworks, which seemed to draw all the cars to that one spot.

"There were cars from Newcastle as well as local. Some of the driving from the kids was quite a concern at times -they were reversing at speed down the busy parking lanes in between the parking bays."

Darlington police had tipped off Cleveland police about the convoy.

But the witness said: "The security men said that the police would not do anything because there were too many of them."

Cleveland police confirmed they had reports of the incident but did not believe it was of concern.

A spokeswoman said: "We received a report and sent some traffic officers down but they did not call for assistance."

Inspector Dennis Dixon, of Darlington police, said: "We have had these events in the area before and we know what they involve now, which is why we were so keen to stop it.

"Basically, it is people who customise their cars with massive sound systems in them, which creates noise nuisance, and some of the cars are not actually legally roadworthy.

"They race each other at high speeds, doing wheelies and other dangerous stunts.

"There is the potential for public disorder as well as the drivers, passengers or other members of the public being seriously injured.

"They are a danger to themselves and to others.

"The idea was for us to nip it in the bud before they started really showing off and causing damage."