A car 'cruising' enthusiast from Bradford has hit out at boy racers who use a Brighouse street as a race track on Sunday evenings.

Tim Crookes, pictured, has been a regular visitor to the car cruises on the Armytage Road industrial estate for more than a year, but said he was fed up of being categorised with those who sped along the road.

"I'm a 35-year-old adult who owns my own business so, for a start, I am not your stereotypical boy racer," he said.

"About 95 per cent of people who attend cruises don't do anything wrong and have vehicles that are taxed, MOT'd and insured. It is purely a social event where like-minded people can compare vehicles. It is the other five per cent who give the rest a bad press.

"Instead of checking cars that are legally parked, police should stop the ones that leave as soon as they arrive - they tend to be the ones with something to hide. Some things happen down there that I don't agree with - the racing side of it on public rights of way, for one. But, at the end of the day, even if someone doesn't agree with it, they'll still watch it."

Mr Crookes, who drives a Punto GT Turbo, said it was "advantageous" for him to attend the cruises as he was in the business of modifying cars with audio and security equipment. He said the cruises were organised by word-of-mouth, text messaging or on the internet.

"Initially, the police at Armytage Road handled it the wrong way by closing down the entire location. All the cruisers had to find somewhere else to go, using main roads," said Mr Crookes, a vehicle audio and security specialist in Bradford.

"It is a non-residential area with three or four exits which the police should not block, but man. Most people are happy for the police to be there because some people have had their cars taken off them, and not by the police. Someone I know was told to get out of his car and when he didn't, he got hit in the face. He was dragged out of the car and it was physically taken off him.

"The police are beginning to be educated as to why we have cruises and people are now coming forward and talking to the police."

In response to complaints about noise from residents living in Clifton, Mr Crookes said he had driven to the area concerned on Sunday evening and could not hear any noise. He also said traffic calming measures installed by Calderdale Council had stopped many racers speeding down Armytage Road.

He said: "There is one staggered on each side of the road for a long length. It completely blocks one lane off and makes it very dangerous. Most people respect their cars and wouldn't attempt it as it's at raised kerb height."

Inspector Pete Brennand, Brighouse's area police commander, said he would be happy to meet the cruisers to look at solutions to the situation.

"They are, in the main, decent lads and lasses and it's the minority which let the majority down," he said.

"In the meantime, we will have a police presence down there, but will let the cruises go ahead."