POLICE are warning boy racers who drive dangerously around Darlington's colleges they could face prosecution.

Darlington Police say the sound of revving engines and screeching tyres is increasing the fear of crime in the area and could lead to people being knocked over or badly hurt.

In the past two weeks, beat officer PC Phil Collingwood has issued 20 warning letters to young people in the area around Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and Darlington College of Technology.

They were predominantly male and aged about 17 to 19. One is due to make a court appearance.

Police say the problem is that boy racers are driving recklessly when the colleges finish for the day - when the streets are full of people.

Community Inspector Chris Reeves said the racers made the area appear lawless and increased the fear of crime - a problem which police have been trying to crack in Darlington.

Insp Reeves said: "The cars run more off testosterone than they do off fuel.

"PC Collingwood had been working with the colleges and putting notes on windscreens, but it had not worked.

"So he went down to the area in plain clothes and caught more than 20 young motorists whose driving was not acceptable - they have now received advisory letters about their driving. The next step is to continue the enforcement and we will prosecute people if they are driving in a dangerous manner."

Both colleges say the boy racers are not necessarily students.

David Heaton, principal of Queen Elizabeth, said he welcomed the police initiative.

He said: "We regularly see examples of dangerous driving around the college and particularly around Vane Terrace.

"Whenever they occur, we attempt to obtain the car registration number and, if we do, we always inform the community police officer or the Darlington control room.

"This is a congested area at certain times of the day and dangerous driving in such an environment is highly irresponsible and anti-social."

A spokesman for Darlington College of Technology said: "We work closely with the community police to discourage behaviour of this nature and would not condone any college students involved in this sort of dangerous practice."