Surfers have called a truce in a row over an endangered reef off Brighton.

Action group Concerned Brighton Marina Surfers had threatened to abseil down cliffs or ride motorbikes on to a construction site in protest.

The row broke out when they were stopped from surfing off a stretch of beach between Brighton Marina and Ovingdean while work is done to strengthen sea defences.

However, a compromise has been reached following talks between Brighton and Hove City Council and the British Surfing Association (BSA).

Some 60,000 tonnes of rock are being laid along 250m of beach, including a series of four-tonne boulders and a 15cm layer of shingle.

Work on the £10.6 million, 18-month scheme started in January.

Sea defences on Undercliff Walk needed strengthening following cliff falls around the marina two years ago and the project was approved by English Heritage.

But surfers had claimed the weight of the rocks, and construction cranes, would seriously damage a rare chalk reef and spoil their surfing.

However, a spokesman for Concerned Brighton Marina Surfers revealed they were now happy the council had listened to their complaints.

He said: "The council and English Heritage have not pledged not to destroy the fragile ecosystem that exists at the bottom of the cliff beside the marina.

"But they have pledged not to destroy our wave and to allow us limited access at the weekends to surf the wave beside Brighton Marina.

"We will monitor the construction site, from the sea and from the cliff to ensure the construction does not sustain the damage we've warned about."

Dave Reed, operations director for the BSA, said he was happy at proposals for a security guard to allow access at weekends.

Boulders will also be kept away from areas most frequently used by surfers.

The council gave the Department of the Environment £9.1 million towards the scheme.

Work will also include encasing the old sea wall with flint-faced concrete blocks, introducing safety measures to protect pedestrians from cliff falls of chalk and creating a new cafe, toilets and chalets at Ovingdean.