Young motorbike fans are campaigning for an official off-road track where they can enjoy their hobby legally without upsetting residents.

The battle of the bikers has been ongoing in Brighton and Hove for almost ten years and, as the sport increases in popularity, the need for a suitable track has grown.

The increased interest in the sport has been matched by the increased irritation of residents who live within earshot of the plots of land hijacked for the sport.

Residents from all over the city have bombarded The Argus letters page with complaints about unofficial tracks.

Residents in Cowley Drive in Woodingdean have been infuriated by the invasion of off-road bikers in the last few weeks and have complained about the incessant noise of the bikes.

The story is the same in Whitehawk, where off-road bikers have been using a plot of land which is supposedly a nature reserve, upsetting some sectors of the community.

So keen are residents in Whitehawk to resolve the problem - and keep residents and riders happy - that a committee was formed to examine the issue.

Riders agree an official, regulated track would keep both sides happy and safe.

Sue Barnes, a youth worker on the Whitehawk Estate in Brighton, helped create a motorcycle club for young people which is now run by the young people themselves.

She said the issue of an official track in the city has been discussed for many years. The nearest track is out towards Steyning.

The riders of the Whitehawk Motorcycle Club have a golden rule that they do not ride illegally.

If they do, and are seen doing so or are reported by police, they are expelled from the group.

Ms Barnes, a keen biker herself, said none of her young people would ride illegally but recognised there were people riding on illegal tracks.

She said a whole raft of problems would be resolved if a permanent, official site was created.

She said: "The good thing about a legal track is that you need planning permission and with planning permission, it would only be allowed to operate for certain hours.

"On illegal tracks you get people on the tracks from the break of dawn until 10 or 11 at night."

Ms Barnes said an official track would attract organised clubs and health and safety measures would be strictly adhered to, which would almost extinguish illegal riding.

Ms Barnes said if other bike clubs were created in the city, they would pull many young people off the streets, particularly young men.

Her group of youngsters has been riding off-road for about eight years and are now old enough to be able to sit the compulsory basic training (CBT) scheme for motorbikes, which is a legal requirement before they can ride on the road.

Ms Barnes said this will enable them to increase their employment opportunities.

Mother-of-two Karen Wilkinson of Bexhill Road, Woodingdean, has a young son who is passionate about off-road biking.

She launched a petition for a track which was handed to the city council this week, complete with 600 signatures.

She said: "My son Cameron is 11 and he loves his bike. It is all he wants to do. I always go out with him to supervise.

"The kids used to go to Sheepcote Valley, a field at the top of Woodingdean, and ride their bikes there but they closed it about three months ago and now the youngsters have nowhere to go.

"They are getting in trouble. They are using the fields around the area and the residents are complaining."

Like Sue Barnes, Mrs Wilkinson believes keeping kids off the streets and involved in activities keeps them out of trouble.

She said: "There is so much biking talent in Brighton but there is nowhere for them to practice. Off-road biking keeps youngsters off the streets."

Mandy Chapman, of north Moulsecoomb, Brighton, has two children. She helped a group of young people on her estate launch a similar petition for an official track.

They currently use Woollards Field on the estate, which is owned by East Sussex County Council.

Mrs Chapman said: "The youngsters are using the track anyway. If it was made official we could get adult supervision up there which would be safer.

"I don't think there's been any complaints about them using the track because the railway line on one side acts as a barrier to the noise."

A city council spokesman said: "We are looking to see whether there is a suitable site to provide a facility for bikers and we would welcome any views people have on possible locations."