TWO men have been banned from driving for a year after they were caught by police racing along a road.

Roads policing officers, who were checking on known haunts for anti-social motorists, caught the men mid-rce on the Southfields Industrial Park, in Laindon.

Acting Inspector Will Willsher, of Laindon Roads Policing Unit, said: "We came across these two on a road known as the Laindon strip. They were racing down the road next to each other in an Audi RS6 and a BMW 740, with one of them on the wrong side of the road. They were literally drag racing.”

Mr Willsher said both men were prosecuted for racing on the public highway – an offence which carries a higher penalty than speeding or careless driving due to its greater danger.

The drivers, Ryan Couling, 22, of Bosworth Road, in Leigh, and Dean Craddock, 39, of Kent View Road, Vange, both appeared before Southend Magistrates Court this week.

As well as being banned from driving for a year they were also ordered to pay fines and costs of almost £1,000 each.

The offences took place on October 17 last year.

Acting Inspector Willsher added: "In Essex we will support the rights of car enthusiasts to meet in appropriate places so they can check out each other’s cars and we absolutely do not have a problem with that.

"But motorists behaving like these two are putting people’s lives at risk. Anyone who we catch driving recklessly, wheel spinning or carrying out dangerous street races can expect to find themselves put before the courts and could end up having to walk everywhere for quite some time.

"We know most of the places where this type of activity has happened in the past and will continue to carry out regular checks at those locations but if anyone knows of any new sites where people are gathering to race then I would urge them to call us on 101 so that we can take action.”