Speeding and wreckless driving are not the only things that can get the average boy racer into trouble these days.

Now anyone in Deal who kits out their car with a roaring exhaust pipe faces an on-the-spot fine.

Neighbourhood police officers in the town will soon be operating a zero-tolerance policy against drivers that have modified their exhausts to make them sound louder, in response to concerns from local residents who say it is affecting their quality of life.

Officer will be issuing Vehicle Defect Rectification Notices, which require the vehicle to be taken off the road and fixed within 14 days, and fixed penalty notices of £50 or £80 to offenders, under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

Sgt Mark Weller of the Deal Neighbourhood Team Said: "Local people tell us that these loud exhausts are causing a real nuisance and in some cases keeping people awake.

“For example, a 1.1 Renault Clio can sound like a 2 litre turbo charged Subaru Impreza, so as well as being illegal it gives the impression that these people are speeding, but it's the noise that creates that illusion.

“Therefore my officers will deal robustly with any motorist causing a nuisance to the public."

The law states that ‘every exhaust system and silencer shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and shall not be altered so as to increase the noise made by the escape of exhaust gases.'