An investigation into a car cruise in the car park of Chill Factore is at end with more than 30 attendees paying a price of more than £30,000.

The car cruise was in the car park of the artificial ski slope close to the Trafford Centre at the end of last year according to Trafford Council.

There is a ban on the events in this area of the borough since eight years ago and across all of the borough since last year by way of a Public Space Protection Order. In 2018, in spite of the ban, Sophie Smith, 19, from Radcliffe, lost her life when someone lost control of their car at one of the events.

An investigation by the council, in partnership with the police, led to the identification of a lot of those in attendance at the end of last year. Some of the attendees agreed to pay the £100 penalty notice but more than 30 attendees did not agree to pay the £100 penalty notice and were prosecuted.

In total they are paying a price of more than £30,000 as a result of a round of sentencing in recent weeks at Stockport Magistrates Court.

Anyone to co-operate with the court paid a lesser penalty but anyone not to co-operate with the court paid a penalty of more than £1,000.

Rose Thompson, Trafford Council's cabinet member for communities and safety, said: "This round of sentencing serves as a warning to those who are thinking of taking part in these events - we will prosecute you."

In 2018, Sophie Smith, from Radcliffe, lost her life when someone lost control of their car at one of the events.

Scott Watkins, from Salford, was jailed for death by dangerous driving and for a number of other offences.

Anyone with information about car cruising can contact the Trafford Council Community Safety Team on safer.communities@trafford.gov.uk. For information about car cruising go to the Trafford Council website.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.