Off-road motorbikers have been causing chaos to residents after using a blighted golf course as a scrambling track.

Families living near the now closed Southern Valley Golf Course in Thong Lane, Gravesend, have raised their concerns to Gravesham councillor Bob Lane.

The golf course has been closed because it is directly in the path of the planned Lower Thames Crossing and will be destroyed if the crossing gets the go-ahead.

It is understood that Lower Thames Crossing is in the process of buying the blighted golf course, but the sale has not been completed yet and no-one is prepared to take responsibility for its security.

Cllr Lane said he has received many complaints from "distraught residents".

"I have been in contact with the police, the golf course owners, and the Lower Thames Crossing, but to no avail.

"In the meantime, the mayhem continues and what was a pleasant golf course is now completely rutted with tyre tracks which gives an indication of the scale of the problem.

"There are even burnt-out bikes on the site which seems to indicate that some of the bikes were stolen," he said.

Cllr Lane was told by Lower Thames Crossing that they do not yet own the land and it remains the responsibility of its current owners.

He added: "The owners of Southern Valley Golf Course say they had hoped that the sale would have been completed months ago, and that it is virtually impossible to keep trespassers off the land. They anticipate that the bikers will continue to use the land."

In a reply to Cllr Lane and Gravesham MP Adam Holloway, police said that they have increased patrols in the area and that they are taking the matter extremely seriously.

“That is no comfort to the hundreds of residents who continue to be subjected to the noise and antisocial behaviour, particularly at weekends,” said Cllr Lane.