HUNDREDS of modified cars descended on a city car park for an event over the weekend, but nearby residents weren’t happy about the noise.

All-Mods group organised the meet-up at Elgar Retail Park on Sunday (January 13), attracting an estimated 450 cars and more than 1,000 people.

Police were said to be present at the event, many in unmarked cars, which ran from around 5pm to 9pm.

But one resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he and others were annoyed as the car enthusiasts were continuously “roaring their engines and causing their exhausts to back-fire”.

He said he and several other residents went over to the car park incognito to try and scope out the event and watched as police cars allegedly pulled over some of the car owners as they vacated.

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“We are not trying to stop their fun,” said the resident, who lives in Blackpole. “I get that it’s their life and they love their cars. I would’ve turned a blind eye if it was not for the fact they were roaring their exhausts and making a noise for hours.”

“Residents were worried to go out and walk their dogs – it was just a bit too much.

“We are grateful for what the police did, but unfortunately due to resources and cut backs, they couldn’t do enough,” he continued. “There were about three police cars. To have any impact, they’d need several riot vans.”

He said: “They crept out past the police at about 20, but once they [the enthusiasts] left the meeting, you could hear them roaring their engines off into the night. When they felt safe, they put the pedal to the floor.”

He called on the council and privately-owned car park managers to do more to prevent the meetings.

There was another All-Mods meeting at the car park in October, which the resident said was “relatively small” compared to Sunday’s event.

“This one had more than doubled in size. Next time, it could be over-spilling into Blackpole,” he added.

However, the organisers, who hold events across the county, have said Sunday’s meet up was put on to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice.

A spokesman said the group collects money for a variety of charities and raised just under £850 on Sunday for the Worcester hospice.

He added that £880 was raised for Make a Wish Foundation before Christmas and that across 2018 they raised over £3,800 for various charities.

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A 22-year-old car enthusiast, from Worcester, who attended the event, said it was simply a “chance to meet other people into cars and chat with friends”.

“I do know the police were aware, there were police cars, and some were unmarked, and they kept doing laps.”

He described All-Mods as a “good car group” who are based in Stratford, where the majority of their events are staged.

We reported last week on Warndon Villages residents’ issue with car meet-ups at Tesco car park in Wood Mill Drive, the attendees of which they had labelled “boy-racers”.

Those who attend the casual gatherings, including Bethany-Mae Jones, 23, of Droitwich, said they were “harmless” and only around 10 people went at a time.

Another car enthusiast, who did not wish to be named but who does also attend the Tesco meet-ups, said: “The car scene that is present between Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire is massive.

“All these little groups that meet on weekly evenings just like our 10 or more that meet at Tesco are hidden in car parks across all the counties.

“These generate a lot of support for bigger meets where everyone travels to support each other in the car scene.”

“Everything you can think of, from British car manufacturers to Japanese, lowered or lifted – 4x4 mostly – from old to new, some modified, some not, if you take an interest in cars these meets are for you.

“It allows people to see how people’s cars are coming on, these meets aren’t just held in Worcestershire they are all over.

“I believe that from our little group only one person attended the rest were from other groups inside and outside of the county,” he added.

A St Richard’s Hospice spokeswoman confirmed money was donated to the charity from All-Mods last year.

A Worcester City Council spokesman said as the car park was privately owned, it was an issue for the owners and the police.

Legal & General, which owns Elgar Retail Park, and West Mercia Police, were unavailable for comment.

All-Mods said it did not wish to comment further on the issue.