Children who spent months creating a bike track on derelict land watched on in horror as it was bulldozed flat.

Youngsters living in Peacehaven had spent almost a year building the mounds out of dirt, creating ramps to ride their bikes over.

But as they walked to school they saw a bulldozer, which had been sent by Lewes District Council, flattening the land at the Firle Road walkway.

Marcella Everest's son, Oliver, 13, is one of the boys who had helped to build the track, which the children call the Mud Hills.

Mrs Everest, 42, said the children often complained there was nothing to do and that the bike track had kept them safe and occupied.

The mother-of-one said: “The kids have said they have got nowhere else to go. Peacehaven Town Council spent money on swings for the younger kids but nothing has been done for the older ones.

“They have spent hours down there and they took the initiative to do it. We know they're safe there.”

Mrs Everest, of Collingswood Close, said before the bike track was built the children would cycle to Brighton or Newhaven and catch the train to Shoreham where there are proper ramps.

She said: “The children have not been causing any trouble. They are not drinking underage. They have found something they enjoy which they have made themselves.

“The majority of the residents around there are glad the land is being used.

“But the council has flattened it down and destroyed it and the kids do not have anywhere to go now.”

Mrs Everest said she was not the only parent who was annoyed at what had happened.

She said they were worried that if their child had an accident several miles away it would not be so easy to get to them, especially as not everyone has a car.

She said: “The children aren't doing any harm. At least they are not hanging about on the street.”

A district council spokeswoman said: "We had received complaints from local residents that a piece of land, owned by us had been made into an unofficial BMX track by local children.

“The decision was taken to return the amenity land to use by the whole community and for this reason the land was flattened.”