CAR horns echoed around the streets surrounding Hove Town Hall as demonstrators gathered to protest over new cycle lanes.

About 50 people descended on the Brighton and Hove City Council building this afternoon to voice their opposition to road layout changes across the city.

Microphone in hand, Brighton resident Chris O’Connor, 35, said: “Reverse this decision and start earning the people’s trust again.

“At the end of the day, we are the ones who vote you in and we are the ones who will vote you out.

“We are here to say no more, stop what you’re doing, we don’t accept four new cycle lanes.”

Speeches were soon brought to a close after a council official said they could no longer use the extension from Hove Town Hall, which was powering the microphone.

But that did little to stop the noise outside the local authority’s headquarters.

Drivers – including many taxis – began to hold down their car horns to the delight of protesters, who started chanting “out, out, out”.

The Green administration has applied for government money to build new lanes across the city.

The bid also includes the extension of lanes introduced under the previous Labour administration – such as the A259 and Old Shoreham Road cycling facilities.

Labour councillor Peter Atkinson, who joined the crowd, said: “The Old Shoreham Road cycle lanes were installed without proper consultation or adequate thought on whether this was the right place for them.

“The lack of cyclists shows that this is the wrong location. They should be removed as soon as possible as they are leading to significant traffic jams and adding to pollution.”