'Boy racers' have been stopped from plaguing Eastbourne town centre residents following a police crackdown.

For 11 years, more than a dozen youths would regularly gather in their souped-up motors in Eastbourne town centre.

Their thumping music, loud horns and rubber-burning wheel-spins would often keep residents awake into the early hours.

Hot spots included Devonshire Place, Hyde Gardens, Trinity Trees and Hartington Place.

The problem was so acute that some residents moved out of the area while others have been afraid to call police for fear of reprisals.

Police launched an offensive this year by sending warning letters to suspected boy racers telling them of the consequences they could face.

Video cameras, CCTV and plain-clothes officers were also used by a team from the Eastbourne community problem solving team.

Now residents say peace has returned to the area and are praising officers for investing time in combating the problem.

The campaign to rid the town of the racers has been led by the Memorial Square Residents' Action Group.

The group, which represents 500 residents, raised a 15,000-name petition, which was taken to Downing Street demanding more police on Eastbourne's streets.

Group chairman Brian Jones, of Trinity Trees, said the boy racer problem had been completely eradicated.

He said: "Thanks to the likes of PC Gary Baker, Sergeant Rob Barrasford and Chief Inspector Martin Stevens, we've seen real results.

"But I think the real praise should go to the residents who stood up and were prepared to be counted.

"At times, certainly in days gone by, we felt the police were just taking our concerns with a pinch of salt.

"We felt their view was that we should put up with this type of thing because we lived in a town centre.

"But since Chief Inspector Stevens has come along, the police have grabbed the problem by the scruff of the neck and sorted it.

"It's a different place to live now.

"Occasionally we get the odd noise but nothing you would not expect living in a town centre."