A Chippenham pensioner who complained to police about racers on the A4 Bath Road says the noise they made was “horrendous.”

The 87-year-old, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, arrived home on Sunday, August 6 to find scores of youngsters racing their cars up and down the Bath Road.

They gathered in the Chippenham B&Q car park, revving their engines, before departing after police moved in to break up the illegal car meet.

The group would later decamp to Swindon, causing a road blockage on Great Western Way.

The pensioner said: “I spent most of the day in Melksham and returned home at 7.15pm and found it full of cars. They were roaring up and down the road making a horrendous noise.

“I contacted the police to complain and while I was on the phone I opened the front door for them to hear.

“The lady on the other end of the phone said: ‘Good lord, is that really the noise they are making’.

“The noise was unbelievable. It was just a stampede with all the cars going up and down the road.

“They were going up to the roundabout on the A4 and back again. They must have rigged their exhausts because they were making a tremendous noise.

“It was completely beyond anything I had ever heard. It was absolutely ridiculous.

“It is a very big car park and it was just chocked with cars. There must have been 60,70, 80 or possibly 100 cars involved.”

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “We were made aware of a car meet at the car park at B&Q in Bath Road, Chippenham, at approximately 7.40pm on Sunday.

“Approximately 100 cars had gathered at the car park and were reported to be driving in an anti-social manner. Officers attended the scene and the vehicles left by 8pm. No arrests were made.”

Police said that after being asked to leave, the convoy of vehicles went to Swindon and caused problems there.

Officers were forced to temporarily close the Great Western Way in Swindon after about 200 people in 50 cars blocked part of the carriageway.

While the incident was taking place, police had to contend with several instances of anti-social behaviour from the drivers.

The road was closed as a safety precaution before being reopened at about 10.30pm after the group had moved on.

Later in the evening, about 30 cars gathered on the Dorcan Industrial Estate in Swindon.  

T/Superintendent Joe Saunders said: “We responded to a gathering of a large number of people who had parked their cars on Great Western Way last night.

“To ensure public safety, we were forced to close the carriageway for more than an hour at great inconvenience to the public. 

“Our officers had to contend with a number of instances of anti-social behaviour directed at them over the course of the evening. 

“While no arrests were made at the time, we shall be examining the circumstances and will consider appropriate further action.

“The vast majority of car enthusiasts pursue their passion lawfully, however, we will not hesitate to take robust action against those who choose to flout the law and cause inconvenience to other road users.

“We will continue to monitor future such car meets and engage with those taking part to ensure public safety and minimise the impact to the wider community.”