BOY racers who speed up and down Blackwood High Street are still causing problems for residents - despite a major police campaign earlier this year.

People living in the area say the young motorists congregate at the north end of town - and claim they cause problems with their noise, litter and dangerous driving.

A meeting has now been called with local councillor Kevin Etheridge, in a bid to address the on-going situation yet again.

Twenty residents have signed a petition calling on Caerphilly council to take action against the motorists.

They have presented the petition to Councillor Etheridge, who will submit it to the authority before the meeting in December.

Residents living in Parkland Street off Sunnybank Road, Cwmgelli and in Coronation Road all signed the petition, saying they have to endure the continued noise problem. The petition calls for the council to introduce measures that will help to reduce noise, nuisance and speeding with boy racers in their area.

Sgt Keith Eynon said police would now like to see overnight parking restrictions placed in the area where the drivers park up and cause problems.

"To be fair, if we ask them to move on, they go without any trouble - but if there were restrictions and we could give them parking tickets they would not park there," he added. Councillor Etheridge has called the meeting at St Margaret's church hall in Blackwood, for 6.30pm on December 4.

It will consider establishing a residents' committee that could liaise with police, the local authority, councillors, traders and publicans.

Councillor Etheridge said he hopes the committee could achieve positive action - and that he welcomes the input he is receiving from residents.

The petition has also been sent to Inspector Jon Everett, of Blackwood Police. Evelyn Chant, of Pentwyn Avenue, said residents were at the end of their tether with the situation, which had been going on for 11 years.

She said residents were unable to sleep several night a week because of the noise, that sometimes went on to 3am.

"I have to go to work and I don't want to be disturbed at night," she said. "Some elderly people live in this road and they are frightened to go out at night which upsets me."

Earlier this year, police waged a major crackdown on the boy racers, which hit the 'cruisers' from all angles.

Many were stopped and issued with warnings, some were breath-tested and others given fixed penalty fines.

*PICTURED: PC Jon Harris monitors traffic on the road to Blackwood.