Police are also investigating reports of the youths throwing eggs at people from Plymouth's Theatre Royal car park.

The city council, which owns the car park, said barriers have been installed to stop the upper floors being used.

Since November, police have issued 80 fixed penalty tickets and reported four people for careless driving.

Death fears

The council said it was not prepared to close the car park because of the "selfish and criminal actions of a mindless minority".

It said any trouble or anti-social behaviour captured on CCTV is handed over to the police.

Officers say hundreds of young men and women can travel from as far afield as Exeter and Tavistock to congregate in Plymouth in their cars.

Jo Hocking, who runs a restaurant near the car park said she has been writing letters to the council since last summer, but the situation has not improved.

She fears if nothing more is done it could lead to someone being killed by the boy racers.