Crudely informed stereotype it may be, but we'd never have flagged the Polish police force as a progressive bunch.

However, news reaches us that police in Lodz, Poland's second city, plan to cordon off sections of the town at night to allow street racers to compete without speed limits.

It's all part of a bid to keep youths from organising illegal night races, and police believe the measures will help to cut down accidents in the city.

"We've come to an understanding with the organisers of the illegal races," said Lech Ryszewski, head of the Lodz motoring club, which has been working with the police force to get the night races up and running.

"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."

Understandably, some sections of the Polish media have likened the measures to organising a piss-up in a brewery and not expecting people to get drunk outside. But just imagine all those pimped-up Ladas and Trabbies...