Efforts to reduce the anti-social behaviour of motorcyclists in an area of Brighton have been hailed a success.

Reports of nuisance bikers in Bevendean were down from 14 in June 2013 to just two this year.

Many complaints last year were about riders using Bevendean Down Nature Reserve and a footpath between Manton Road and Plymouth Avenue.

Graham Banfield, 67, of Manton Road and lives next to the footpath, said: “It's only in the last few years that people have ridden up here like maniacs.

"It's a lifeline for a lot of people – you get whole families going up and down on a regular basis.”

Measures taken include educating riders about the impact of motorbike use, handing out anti-social driving warnings and adding bars to the bottom of the footpath.

Mr Banfield added: “Since they put those barriers in I don't think I've heard one go up. It's certainly made a difference.”

Police also quashed a rumour the farmer allowed bikers on the nature reserve.

William Gandy, chairman of the Bevendean Local Action Team, stressed education was a big part of getting bikers off the nature reserve.

He said 90 per cent of them stopped using the land of their own accord after learning about the importance of the area and the impact of noise pollution.

He added: “We don't want to spoil their fun so they have nowhere to ride, but we want to let them know that's not an appropriate place to be doing it.”