BOY racers will be stopped in their tracks on Canvey this weekend thanks to special police powers banning them from Roscommon Way.

The road has been dubbed a racetrack by residents on the island due to the number of young drivers turning up at weekends at car cruising events.

But police are now introducing a dispersal order for the area which will stop groups congregating this weekend. Anyone who refuses to leave when asked by officers, could be arrested.

Sgt Mark McQuade, from Canvey Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Due to activity that took place last week, where we had some boys down there racing around again, we are introducing a dispersal order for the weekend.

“It means people are not allowed to congregate in the area with the intention of committing antisocial behaviour. If we find there are cars parked up with the intention of racing, wewill move them on.”

The dispersal order will begin at 6pm tonight and run until midnight on Sunday.

The police and council have tried to curb the behaviour of drivers in recent months, with CCTV cameras being put up in the road.

Officers are trawling through hours of CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the boy racers and hope the dispersal order will mean a quiet weekend for Canvey residents.

Sgt McQuade said: “It is difficult to police, but when we do, they generally move on. If they return, then we can take action and look at prosecution.”

Nearby resident Billy Baxter, 25, welcomed the order, but says more needs to be done. He said: “It’s really good news, but they need to do it every weekend.

“We need more cameras on the roundabouts by the industrial estates. That way, they can’t drift round there and then speed off.

“We need more cameras now to nip this in the bud.”

More than 60 boy racers have been caught driving dangerously since cameras were installed in September.

Police have issued 18 antisocial behaviour warnings and told 21 other motorists they face prosecution. Another three may still face action.

Ray Howard, deputy member for Essex Highways, said: “We are trying to do our best to alleviate the nuisance these irresponsible people constantly seem to want to cause.

“People on the other end of the island can hear them at times. Thankfully, there is a lot going on behind the scenes to secure prosecutions. I hope these people realise we mean business.”