A succesful crackdown on seafront cyclists appears to be short-lived.

The Argus reported last week how Sussex Police issued 45 fines in two hours to people caught cycling on the pavement near the Sea Life Centre.

The operation generated more than £1,300 earlier this month after a series of residents' complaints.

After being contacted by fed-up pedestrians this week, we visited the same area yesterday and caught three law-flouting cyclists on the pavement in just five minutes.

Terry Marshall, of Swanborough Place, Brighton, said the cycling problem was still evident.

He said: “I often walk home from work along Marine Parade at about five in the afternoon, but hadn't done so for a week.

“After reading the article I decided to walk home that way to see if things had changed.

“But there were a considerable amount of cyclists on the pavement. There were just as many, if not more, than before and it's mostly the same people. It's dangerous.”

The penalty for riding a bike on a footway can lead to a £30 fine and a court appearance if it's disputed.

'Picking on children'

But cycling groups have criticised the police, insisting time would be better spent on prosecuting dangerous drivers.

Becky Reynolds, from Brighton-based cycling campaign group Bricycle, said last week: “With police resources spread thinly I would hope that the police and PCSOs are prioritising enforcement against the most dangerous road behaviour, not picking on people, particularly children, who are avoiding traffic or unfriendly road design.

"Education is preferable to fines.”

A spokesman from Sussex Police said they had not received any complaints from members of the public about cyclists using the pavement since they ran their initial operation on June 5.

PC Claire Horner, from Brighton's Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Some cyclists believe it is safer to take a short cut across the pavement there rather than use the road.

"This is not acceptable and is putting pedestrians in danger of being struck. "We are continuing to monitor the situation and will run further operations in the area in the future."

Before the current crackdown, police had issued just 100 tickets to cyclists breaking the law along the seafront.