“Lunatic” bikers are racing each other down a main road at more than 100mph, sparking worried residents and councillors to call for urgent action before someone dies.

The bikers use Horton Lane in Epsom as a racetrack at weekends and sometimes during weekday nights, according to people living in the area.

Police launched a major clampdown in the road last summer but said this week that it was not a priority area.

Although speed-activated warning signs were installed two years ago, the road still has a 40mph limit, no speed cameras nor effective traffic calming measures.

Residents insist the bikers are now back in force and, with summer on its way, they want permanent and effective action to end reckless racing – a call backed by the local MP and Labour councillor, Dan Stevens, who wants politicians and the police to sit down to agree solutions.

Ian Gilbody, who lives in Sandy Mead adjacent to Horton Lane, said the amount of racing had definitely increased with bikers exceeding 100mph.

He said: “Bikers gather at the bottom of Horton Lane, very near the entrance to Hook Arena, then proceed up and down like lunatics.

“A simple reduction of 10mph on a road that runs between four housing estates, that children play along, that runners, cyclists and horse-riders use, due to its wide path area, and which normal motorists use on a daily basis could save police time and money, reduce noise and nuisance and may just save the life of a biker or two.”

Ian Docwra, who lives in nearby Manor Green Road, said: “Every time I step outside I can hear the noise from the motorbikes roaring around the road, which is irritating and annoying and detracts from any enjoyment of the outside. This is happening pretty much all the time at weekends and some evenings during the week. I can hear the noise up until 11pm in the evenings.

“The police know about the situation because there are signs up saying that unmarked police cars are patrolling the area, but something permanent needs to be done about the constant noise, nuisance and environmental damage being caused.

“The road needs to have speed control features installed urgently - ideally a mixture of chicanes, humps and cameras.”

But a regular user of the road said: “The only answer is speed cameras and more police enforcement. If you start putting speed humps and chicanes they will cause damage to vehicles and increase pollution.”

East Surrey Police said work carried out by the police last year, including speed checks, patrols and covert work, meant that Horton Lane was no longer a priority area.

Epsom and Ewell safer neighbourhood Sergeant Shane Craven, said: “Historically concerns were raised about the driving manner of motorcyclists on Horton Lane in Epsom but due to extensive work carried out by different units at Surrey Police the problem has decreased.

“Last summer, the road was treated as a priority area for speed enforcement and a number of fixed penalty notices were issued to motorists for offences. If the problem returns in the future we will certainly put measures in place to tackle the issue quickly and robustly.

“In the meantime we continue to monitor the situation in the area and urge anyone who witnesses any riders or drivers acting in an antisocial manner to contact officers on 101 with as much information on the offending vehicle as possible so we can bring those responsible to justice.”

Chris Grayling MP said: “There is a very real problem with motorbikes travelling at way over the speed limit on many roads locally. Horton Lane has suffered particularly badly. I think there is a strong case for the installation of a speed camera on the road, and certainly for stronger enforcement by the police.”

Councillor Stevens said: “I think that the difficulty with speed restrictions and traffic calming measures is that we need to have the agreement of Surrey County Council and I am not one hundred per cent sure how simple that will be.

“We need to sit down as local councillors, county councillors and the police and see what we can come up with.”

What do you think should be done about speeding on Horton Lane? Email hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk