SPEEDING boy racers were terrorising Canvey town centre this weekend - three months after council bosses promised to introduce new powers to tackle the issue.

Essex Police responded to a series of calls from residents reporting reckless drivers racing on the one-way system in Foksville Road, Furtherwick Road, Knightswick Road, and Elder Tree Road.

In November, Castle Point Council began a public consultation on introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which would give police and council officers additional powers to disperse large groups and fine repeat offenders. 

However, this closed in January and there is no word on when the powers might be introduced.

Canvey Island Independent Party councillor Dave Blackwell admitted to the Echo that more boy racers were heading to the island after neighbouring towns had managed to tackle the issue.

He said: “Anyone on the island will tell you this has been going on for years. It’s certainly not a new phenomenon, but we are working to stamp it out.

“Recently it has gotten worse as other local councils have brought in various restrictions, such as Thurrock, Basildon and Southend. 

“The boy racers are looking at Canvey as the only place left they can go to race, but we hope to shut that door as quickly as possible.

“It’s no fun being woken up at 1am or 2am by the noise of boy racers roaring around the island. 

“Enough is enough.”

He added: “When the PSPO is in place these boy racers will quickly find out that their days of roaring around Canvey causing residents nightmares are over.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We have received several reports of vehicles racing around the one-way system on Canvey late in the evenings. 

“Our officers are aware and will be paying attention to the area. Those found committing road traffic offences will be dealt with accordingly along with being issued a Section 59 warning which could mean that their vehicles will be seized if they are found committing anti-social behaviour within a 12-month period.”