Police were called in to stop an impromptu hotrod show on a town centre road.

Hundreds of people, including small children, packed the pavements opposite The Broadway shops, in Brighton Road, Worthing, between 5pm and 6pm yesterday after a custom car show in nearby Steyne Gardens.

As cars were leaving, the drivers of souped-up dragsters started wheel-spinning, filling the air with the sound of screeching tyres and the smell of burning rubber.

People living in the area, fearing an accident if a car went out of control and ploughed into the crowds, called the police.

Today, the road surface was heavily marked with black tyre marks.

Police confirmed they received complaints from residents in the area angry about the noise.

The wheel spinning is a unofficial traditional end to the show, which has been running for 14 years.

Event organisers said the aim of the event was to bring a wide variety of vehicles to the town centre so people could get a good look at them close up, but wheel spinning on the main road was not part of the organised attractions.

Organiser Mac Skeet said: "We do not encourage that type of action but once the cars leave the site and go out on to the public highway there is little we can do about it.

"There were some local youths in their silly little cars trying to get involved but they were nothing to do with us.

"We have been organising this event for 14 years and once again it was a major success and helped to bring Worthing alive."

A police spokesman said: "The vast majority of people taking part in the event did not cause any problems and it was only a tiny minority that could have put people watching at risk."