VILLAGERS are being urged to report reckless drivers using their area as a race track "before someone gets killed".

Mistley Parish Council made the decision to close the car park at Furze Hill, in Mistley, at night from June 23 due to ongoing issues with antisocial behaviour.

The car park will remain locked from 6pm until 6am the following day for the foreseeable future.

Lawford Parish Council then followed suit to close the car park in School Lane, Lawford, from 6pm.

A spokesman for the council said one of the reasons for closing the car park at night was also due to antisocial behaviour problems with some drivers using the car park in the evening to meet up and behave in a way to cause nuisance.

The council will be monitoring the situation closely and will open the facility back as normal if it feels the issue is stopping.

Charlotte Howell, Mistley Parish Council's chairman, is now urging villagers to report dangerous drivers who are using Mistley as a race circuit to the police.

She said: "People have been using the roads as a race track.

"Someone is going to be killed soon if they carry on."

Mrs Howell said the drivers had been using Furze Hill's car park at night, before driving around the area as speed.

"There were a couple of young car drivers congregating in the carpark in the evenings," she added.

"I'd love the car park to be open all the time but our helper was abused and threatened by them.

"They have not been putting their litter in the bins either."

She said now the car park is closed, the drivers can still be heard in the area at night.

"It's the same car noises you hear regularly and they are loud.

"They should be reported to the police with their number plates."

Mrs Howell said the decision to close the car park was not made lightly, as the council wants people to walk their dogs in the summer months.

All the groups using the playing field still have access to the car park after 6pm, and have been given instructions on how to use the barrier.

If anyone has information about dangerous drivers in Mistley, Manningtree and Lawford, call Essex Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Lawford Parish Council has been approached for comment.