Dozens of vehicles attended at unauthorised car meet at a Northampton retail park, resulting in a 19-year-old driver – who was identified via social media posts – being handed a public space protection order notice.

The meet took place on Sunday July 5 evening at Riverside Retail Park and saw crowds of people watching on as dozens of drivers met. A plume of exhaust smoke could be seen and a loud noise was also reported.

Northamptonshire Police say they received several calls about the meet at around 8.30pm. Officers attended, but most participants had left the scene.

A spokeswoman for the force added: “Through a video circulating on social media, a 19-year-old driver was identified as taking part in the event, and as a result was issued with a Section 59 warning notice under the Police Reform Act 2002, received a public space protection order notice and was issued with an immediate prohibition notice due to his vehicle being in a dangerous condition.”

Officers also carried out further checks at other hotspot locations.