Polish boy racers have been given the green light to speed through city streets by the police.

Parts of the country's second city Lodz have been cordoned off at night for testosterone-fuelled youngsters to drive at hair raising speeds.

The move by police in Lodz is a bid to keep youths from speeding at night throughout the city.

They hope encouraging them to race and show off their cars in a controlled zone - where they can travel as fast as they like - will cut down on accidents in the rest of the city.

The first legal races have taken place in Lodz, monitored by the city police and the Lodz motoring club.

"We've come to an understanding with the organisers of the illegal races," said the head of the club, Lech Ryszewski.

"The motoring club has created a Street Legal section, which will organise the races in closed off streets, under the supervision of licensed organisers and judges. In return, participants are obliged to make sure no-one organises similar races on city streets."

But the Polish press has slammed the move, claiming the authorities have naively capitulated to the boy racers.