By Melita Kiely

Concerned residents of East Brighton held a meeting to discuss fears about illegal motorcyclists posing a threat to public safety.

People in the area are worried as motorbikes are ridden illegally on the pavements and football pitches at the Crew Club on Coolham Drive, Whitehawk, putting pedestrians at risk.

Staff from the Crew Club, Albion in the Community and East Brighton Community Football Club were among those who attended the meeting on Thursday, October 18 to discuss possible preventive methods.

Crew Club manager Darren Snow said: “There can be up to five or six bikes whizzing by at a time.

"They ride on the path and it is going to result in someone getting knocked down eventually."

The area around the Crew Club is poorly lit making the motorbikes even more of a threat.

East Brighton park ranger Paul Gorringe proposed putting giant logs around the edges of the pitch within the next couple of months as a temporary measure to prevent motorbike access.

Permanent fencing around Whitehawk Hill is being planned as a long-term solution but might not be possible until 2015.

Gary Martin, secretary manager of East Brighton Community Football Club, said: “A lot of money has been put into both pitches but we have now been limited to one because of the awful condition of the second.”

Children from the youth club have made posters to warn others of the dangers of riding motorbikes on the pavement.

Illegal motorcyclists have been a problem in the Whitehawk area for more than 30 years.

Mr Snow said: “If someone got run over, injured or killed it would be a serious problem. Something has got to be done.”