BOY racers tearing through a Gwent town are putting pedestrians' lives at risk, local people say.

Broad Street in Blaenavon is being used as a "race track", says councillor Stuart Evans, who is calling for a greater police presence to stamp out the problem.

"Elderly people and young families go to bingo on Friday nights at the old St John's Ambulance Hall in Broad Street," said Mr Evans.

"These youngsters are racing their cars up and down the road at the same time at speeds of up to 50mph and there are no speed cameras or traffic calming measures to stop them. Cars are normally parked on either side of the road, and there is no pedestrian crossing, so crossing the road is very difficult as it is.

"It only needs one person to step out at the wrong time and we'll have a tragedy on our hands."

The boy racers are known to congregate in the car parks at the top of Broad Street and in King Street until as late as 2am. An 89-year-old female resident of Blaenavon, who is a regular bingo player at the old Ambulance Hall in Broad Street, said: "I'm very scared to cross the road and it's an accident waiting to happen - someone could easily be killed."

PC Dave Martinson, patrol officer for Blaenavon, said: "We carry out foot patrols in Broad Street when the problem of boy racers is usually at its worst, between 8pm and 12am."