A MAJOR police operation was put into gear across East Lancashire when hundreds of drivers tried to stage unofficial rallies in a number of car parks.

Patrols were stationed on large car parks across the area after around 500 vehicles and around 1,500 people gathered in Colne to try and stage a rally.

They were moved on by police and around 400 vehicles and 1,200 people gathered in Blackburn, but again they were moved on. The drivers headed towards Blackpool and eventually dispersed.

The unofficial events include drag races and drivers performing stunts such as wheelies and handbrake turns.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "A number of people were given fixed penalty notices and one person was arrested." Officers were called to Asda, Colne, just after 8pm last night after reports that up to 40 cars were being driven recklessly round the car park while the store was still open.

The cars were moved on and from then until midnight the would-be racers and police played "cat and mouse" across East Lancashire along the M65 motorway.

Large car parks with potential for being a meeting point, including Asda and the Happy Eater restaurant car parks, both Burnley, and others in Blackburn, were monitored by officers.

The police operation, called Operation Embay, followed similar police operations, under the title Max Power, earlier this year to halt rallies along the M61 motorway.

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