A passenger in a car that was overtaken at “horrific speed” when it inadvertently found itself in the middle of a boy racers’ meet says it was a “terrifying” experience - and police have now pledged to up patrols in the area.

Several calls reporting nuisance drivers along the A228 between Strood and Snodland were made on Saturday (August 10) at around 10.50pm.

Drivers heading along the road were overtaken by speeding vehicles between the Peter’s Bridge roundabout and the Snodland bypass.

A crowd described as being around 150-strong was standing along the embankment outside the McDonald’s.

Multiple calls were made to police that evening by witnesses and police are investigating.

One couple, who were driving home, suddenly found themselves right in the middle of the boy racers at about 11.10pm.

The female passenger, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "My husband and I were coming along the A228 from Strood heading towards Snodland when we found ourselves behind two Minis and a lorry.

"We had just come past St Andrews Lake, and the Minis seemed quite keen to get past the lorry although nothing at that point struck us as unusual, just that they were a little impatient.

"As we approached the roundabout at Peters Bridge where it becomes a dual carriageway, we all overtook the lorry and the Minis took off.

"Then, as we got further around the roundabout - at the exit where McDonald's and Costa are - we were suddenly met by a wall of people stood in a long line on the edge of the pavement, all staring at us. I reckon there were at least 150 people there.

"For a split second, I couldn't work out what was going on, then three cars roared past us at a horrific speed before slamming their brakes on to negotiate the next roundabout just by M&S.

"I suddenly realised we'd not only stumbled on a car meet but were right in the middle of the action and with very little idea how many more cars were involved.

"It was terrifying. What if they'd crashed? What if one of the crowd had stepped off the pavement?

"Thankfully, it only lasted a few seconds but you don't expect to find yourself in the middle of a road race when what up until then had been a fairly quiet drive home."

The woman dialled 999 and was told by the call handler other people had also reported the drivers and it was being looked into.

A police spokesperson said: “We were called to multiple reports of nuisance driving and traffic offences on the A228, Snodland.

“The vehicles dispersed prior to officers’ arrival and an investigation is ongoing into the circumstances.

“Additional patrol cars are attending the areas affected by these incidents and officers have the powers to issue £100 fines to anyone breaching the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) put in place by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

“Further action may include dispersal orders and the issuing of Traffic Offence Reports (TORs).”