Residents are demanding action at an eyesore industrial estate following a spate of fires and vandalism.

Since Sunblest Bakeries moved out of the site in Woodingdean, Brighton, three years ago, it has fallen into decline.

Residents want the council-owned land tidied up and say rats have been seen in the area.

The council has leased the site to the Midlands-based property development company St Modwen Developments.

Woodingdean Tory councillor Dee Simson, who has received numerous complaints about the site, said: "We want to see this area cleaned up as soon as possible.

"There have been fires and vandalism and residents are fed up with this eyesore.

"We want it cleared and developed as soon as possible."

One of the firms which has moved in temporarily is Brighton Car Repairs and Stores, which still operates from premises in Bexhill Road. It leases its site from St Modwen Developments.

On Saturday night a car was deliberately crashed into the gates of the yard and set alight. Other vehicles inside were vandalised.

Cars have also been using the council land opposite Bexhill Road as a race track.

At the weekend, wooden tables for walkers who start and finish walks across the Downs at that point were smashed.

Fire services have been called to the former Sunblest site to deal with fires believed to have been caused by blazing tyres dumped in the old bakery.

St Modwen Developments has put in several applications to develop the land with industrial units but these have been rejected.

In April, Brighton and Hove councillors rejected a plan by the Downs Baptist Church to build a church on the site, saying it had been designated for industrial and employment use.