The ongoing neighbourhood dispute over Lotus staff speeding through a Norfolk village has taken a fresh twist.
Police have confirmed they are monitoring a growing quarrel between employees and angry locals.
It comes as people living near the plant claim they are being woken in the early hours of the morning by staff heading home from night shifts at high speeds.
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They have even dubbed the noisy nightly commute the 'Lotus Rally'.
"The situation is ongoing but things seem to be moving in the right direction," said Colin Rudd, chairman of Bracon Ash and Hethel Parish Council.
"We have spoken with the police and they outlined what they had been doing.
"We've also spoken with Lotus and it seems they are now starting to take things more seriously."
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The parish council recently said there had been "no improvement whatsoever" to the situation, despite locals raising the issue with the company multiple times.
In what marked a major escalation of the row, councillors had threatened to thwart Lotus' £8m redevelopment plans for the site.
Mr Rudd said in an email to the firm: "It is quite clear that any further expansion plans must take into account this unsociable behaviour as, by your own admission, you cannot control this behaviour."
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The company's plans involve the construction of three new buildings at its Hethel site to support its conversion to the production of electric vehicles.
A spokesman for Norfolk police said: “The parish council have made us aware of the concerns of a small number of residents.
“There has been no increased presence in the area, above and beyond our usual response and safer neighbourhood team patrols.
“We continue to monitor the situation and will escalate as necessary through advice or enforcement, as well as in conjunction with South Norfolk District Council if noise is the issue.”
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