POLICE in Trowbridge have been accused of failing to take action over the rising number of boy racers tearing around the town's business and retail parks.

One 38-year-old resident, who lives off Wiltshire Drive, said she was horrified to witness first-hand the scale of the problem at White Horse Business Park and Spitfire Retail Park.

The woman, who does not want to be identified for fear of reprisals, blamed the town's police for failing to implement new powers specifically geared at targeting boy racers.

Police in Bradford on Avon and Melksham have already used new powers to seize vehicles, as outlined in the Police Reform Act 2002.

Speaking about the problem, she said: "If police continue to allow this to happen these kids will keep on doing it.

"It's like the attitude of 'if you get killed it's your fault'.

"I have rung the police and offered to go out myself with a radar gun but they said no. You can't win.

"These car drivers have no respect for human life. You hear in the paper about people getting killed by speeding cars."

The woman, who suffers from the debilitating condition ME, said the boy racers target the White Horse Business Park, home of Virgin Mobile and Vodafone, into the early hours.

"When I went out walking the other day it was like a free-for-all, utterly crazy. It was worse than a motorway," she said.

"At Spitfire Retail Park it can be an intimidating atmosphere as they all congregate in big groups.

"They treat Trowbridge like a Grand Prix track."

Insp Glyn Hookings told Trowbridge town councillors at a meeting earlier this year he was drawing up plans to crack down on boy racers.

Sgt Martin Schorah, of Trowbridge police, said: "If people are driving around too fast or with loud music blaring we can stop them and give them a warning.

"The information is then put on to the Police National Computer so if they travel elsewhere and commit the offence again they could potentially have their car seized."

Sgt Schorah said officers in Trowbridge had been handing out warnings.

In Bradford on Avon a teenager had his car seized twice in less than a fortnight after complaints over his "aggressive driving".

Mark Harding-Wyatt, 18, had to shell out £100 on two occasions to have his Peugeot 306 Saloon released from the car compound.