POLICE today confirmed that two cars being allegedly raced around Levington in the early hours of the morning had been stolen.An Audi A4 - which was damaged after being driven across fields towards the shore of the River Orwell - and a Vauxhall Astra, which overturned near the junction of Church Lane, had been reported stolen from Gesting Thorpe, near Sudbury.

POLICE today confirmed that two cars being allegedly raced around Levington in the early hours of the morning had been stolen.

An Audi A4 - which was damaged after being driven across fields towards the shore of the River Orwell - and a Vauxhall Astra, which overturned near the junction of Church Lane, had been reported stolen from Gesting Thorpe, near Sudbury.

Detectives from Halstead in Essex are investigating the incident, liaising with colleagues from Suffolk police.

A spokesman for Essex police said the two cars had been reported stolen overnight Thursday-Friday, and were found in Levington around 5.30am on Friday.

Officers were alerted after residents became concerned at the vehicles, along with another, understood to be a Ford, tearing through Levington's narrow and winding streets at top-speed.

After the Audi and Astra crashed, the vehicles were recovered and taken away to be examined by scenes of crimes officers.

Residents in Levington have been plagued for a number of years by their quiet rural roads being turned into a “race track” and have often been woken by screeching tyres and revving engines.

A few weeks ago another car crashed into the railway bridge at Levington and caught fire.

An earlier incident involving a stolen car resulted in a crash, which demolished the village telephone box.

Chairman of the parish council David Long said: “It is a miracle no-one has been killed. Many people in the village ride horses or walk their dogs early in the morning.”

Parish councillor Brian Barker, who has been lobbying for traffic calming measures, said: “I really hope this incident will highlight the dangers to young people who might think about racing cars.

An Essex police spokesman said two teenagers from Ipswich had been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The 18-year-old and a 19-year-old were interviewed by Essex police and have been bailed to appear at Braintree police station on October 6.

Did you see the incident? What do you think should be done to stop Levington being used as a race track? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk