Avon and Somerset Police have said they will be on patrol in the Cheddar Gorge area again this weekend, after closing the road on Sunday (August 16) due to nearly 400 cars gathering.

On Sunday evening the number of vehicles at the gorge peaked at about 300 to 400 and a decision was taken to shut the road due to acts of dangerous driving.

Motorists were seen performing doughnuts and drifting, as pedestrians and cyclists tried to use the route.

The action the police took included:

• Cheddar Gorge was shut to traffic at about 8.45pm and drivers were ordered to leave. The area was vacated within approximately 30 minutes.
• Approximately 80 to 100 vehicles were later reported to have arrived at Sainsbury's car park in Worle. The police received reports of loud music being played. Officers helped bring the incident to a close.
• Eight vehicles were stopped.
• One drug search was conducted.
• Two drivers were handed fixed penalty notices for breach of vehicle regulations.
• One driver was caught without valid insurance.
• Two motorists were directed to leave due to antisocial behaviour.
• Police also supported the ambulance service with two unrelated medical incidents.

Inspector Andy Pritchard said: "Extra resources were deployed to the gorge over the weekend because of concerns regarding a planned car meet on Sunday.

"We will not tolerate the dangerous driving that people were subjected to in Cheddar or Weston and we will not allow public roads to be treated as a race track.

"Our priority was, first and foremost, to ensure the public's safety and therefore the gorge was closed as a last resort.

"We apologise for anyone inconvenienced, but hope they can appreciate why it was necessary on this occasion.

"Officers on the scene were equipped with body worn cameras and we will be reviewing that footage, identifying those drivers and taking action against those responsible for putting innocent people in jeopardy.

"Quite simply, car meets in the gorge are not safe and we will be deploying officers in the area again this weekend."

Avon and Somerset Police say they continue to work with key partners to provide a long-term solution to make the road through the gorge as safe as possible.