POLICE spent the day speaking to boy racers who make living near a Malton car park a misery.

On Friday officials were stationed at Wentworth Street car park to listen to frustrated local residents and talk to nuisance drivers.

The area has been the centre of long-running problems with young motorists who use the facility as a gathering point to perform noisy stunts and “cruise” about the market town at night.

Despite limited success in setting up a group of “self-regulating” drivers and installing barriers, police say they still receive streams of complaints about anti-social behaviour.

PC Terry Triffitt, who was at the event, which also involved members of the fire and rescue service and the county’s highways officials, said it was a useful exercise to engage with young people and residents.

According to the Safer Ryedale spokesman, it would be too costly for the local authority to close the car park at night.

He said: “We wanted these drivers to realise how much upset they cause and I think some of them have empathy with the residents.

“Many of the people who live near the car park are elderly and the noise of revving engines can be very distressing for them.

“We hope they take this on board and in future think about other people who live in the area.”