A mother who narrowly escaped a serious crash when driving with her young son is calling for action to tackle speeding teenagers who are using Otley as a race track.

Interior designer Lia Martinucci, who stars on ITV's 60 Minute Makeover, was confronted by a speeding car screeching towards her on the wrong side of the road near to the junction of Burras Lane and Kirkgate.

She and her five-year-old son Barnaby escaped unharmed when the teenage driver managed to avoid hitting them at the last moment.

But now the interior designer is warning that someone could be killed or seriously injured unless urgent action is taken.

The boy racers have been congregating at night in Waitrose car park, and this week the supermarket revealed it was planning to put up gates to keep the teenagers out.

Youths are also being warned they could have their vehicles confiscated in a police clampdown on the potentially lethal menace.

Ms Martinucci, who lives in Pool, had just left Waitrose car park at 7.40 one evening when she was confronted by the car speeding towards her on the wrong side of the road.

"I was driving down the road at a normal speed and then encountered this car head on coming round the corner in front of me."

"His brakes were screeching and I heard him coming before I saw him. He must have been doing 60 or 70 miles an hour, and that vehicle was basically a lethal weapon.

"I had a split second to make a decision. Luckily I stayed left and he moved back onto his side. If I had made a wrong decision I would have killed my son."

Ms Martinucci reported the matter to police and was told they knew about the problem.

"They said they were aware of what goes on and that they would try to find this young lad and have a word with him. The problem is somebody needs to do something because someone is going to get very badly hurt.

"They all congregate in the Waitrose car park at night and do a run from Otley hospital."

Ms Martinucci said she and her husband and children moved away from Wetherby because of problems with anti-social behaviour there and she was shocked to discover the problem in Otley.

"It is crazy that this is happening in a small town like Otley," she said. "If these boy racers are so good they should go on a race course and get off the roads."

Now she is calling for police action and is warning other people to be aware of the dangers.

"All I can do is make people aware," she said. "What I can't do is go out and take the law into my own hands. People have to be made aware of it because if you are forewarned you are forearmed."

A spokesman for Waitrose revealed that the supermarket had already started moves to get the boy racers off its land. Department Manager John Simpson said they were aware of the problem and had applied to Leeds City Council for planning permission for gates to stop vehicles entering the car park at night.

"We applied for planning permission in June and are still waiting to hear. As soon as we get planning permission the funds are available to erect the gates."

He said when the youths gathered in the car park there could be between ten and 30 of them, and between two and six cars.

Mr Simpson said supermarkets up and down the country had to deal with similar problems of youths converging on their car parks.

"I think where there is an expanse of tarmac you are going to get these kids racing round.

"It is unfortunate that they are here. When we see them we call the police, and the police come and move them along. But an hour and a half later they are back again."

A West Yorkshire police spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the problems around the Waitrose car park and officers from the neighbourhood policing teams have spoken with a number of drivers and asked them to move on.

"Should they return and continue with this type of anti-social behaviour we are more than prepared to arrest them and this may lead to the seizure of their vehicles.

"This type of anti-social behaviour has a significant impact on the local community who have the right to expect to live in a safe and peaceful environment.

"Anyone who is seeking to disturb this environment will be dealt with swiftly and effectively.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Otley police on 01943 858071."