Peace is returning to Eastbourne town centre after a campaign to banish boy racers.

Residents have been tormented for more than a decade by so-called cruisers using streets as a race track after dark.

They have complained of being kept awake until 4am as up to 60 racers perform wheelspins, play music and shout foul language from their cars.

The problem became so bad that some people moved away from the town.

To counter the problem, police responded to calls for more officers to patrol areas such as Devonshire Place, Hartington Place, Trinity Trees and Hyde Gardens after dark.

We reported in November that plain-clothes officers had started patrols to combat the boy racers, with 30 motorists booked for vehicle offences within the first few weeks.

Now efforts by the newly-formed Eastbourne Community Problem Solving Team (ECPST), led by Sergeant Rob Barrasford, have drawn praise from residents, who say racers have all but deserted the town centre, with just a few cruisers causing problems.

One resident, who declined to be named, said: "The improvements have been really noticeable since the police stepped up their efforts.

"I can now get a good night's rest without all the screeching noise, loud music and disgusting behaviour that has plagued us for all these years. Let's hope it continues."

Pressure to banish the racers was led by the Memorial Square Residents' Action Group, which represents more than 500 people.

Members took a petition of more than 15,000 signatures to Downing Street to demand more police on Eastbourne's roads.

The group said talks are now being held with Sgt Barrasford and the rest of the ECPST.

Group chairman Brian Jones said: "The change has been dramatic.

"No one is saying the problem has been solved totally because there are still odd nights when they are out causing a nuisance.

"But we are now back to what our town centre should be like and we are enormously grateful to Sgt Barrasford and his team."