Angry residents who say driving schools are plaguing their quiet streets staged a demonstration outside a test centre.

People in Hangleton are unhappy about the number of learner drivers on lessons or tests using the roads around their homes.

They claim bosses at the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) have failed to keep their promise to clamp down on the number of L-plate drivers in the area.

About 30 people gathered outside the DSA's test centre in Burwash Road in a repeat of a protest carried out eight months ago.

That action resulted in Hangleton Valley Drive being removed from the route used by examiners carrying out tests.

But people who live nearby say the situation is worse than ever.

John Walker, of Hangleton Valley Drive, said: "Things improved for a while but they are worse than ever now."

George Sims, who lives in the same road, said: "I am disabled but that does not stop them parking across my drive while they sit and chat.

"I live on the corner with Pipers Close and there is a procession of learners reversing around the corner all day long."

Hangleton councillor Peter Willows said: "I spoke to the DSA about this after the residents protested in August.

"Things improved for a while and we managed to get the test route moved into Hove, where it is not quite so residential.

"Now it has got worse again and residents have to put up with dozens of driving schools from as far away as Worthing and Haywards Heath using the roads around here."

A notice in the DSA's office in Burwash Road asks instructors not to use Hangleton Valley Drive as part of the test route.

It says: "Complaints have been received from over 40 people living in the road who would like there to be some respite from the constant reversing and turns in the road. This road has now been dropped from test routes until further notice."

A spokeswoman for the DSA said she would investigate whether Hangleton Valley Drive had been reinstated as a test route.

She said: "Unfortunately, these are public roads and the DSA has no jurisdiction to ban examiners or driving instructors from using them.

"If the residents write to us we can see if we can reinforce the earlier request to examiners not to use it for tests."

The address is: Driving Standards Agency, Customer Services Unit, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham NG1 5GU.