Scores of motorists using a new parking payment system could have been overcharged by more than three times.

Brighton and Hove City Council is now having to contact potentially hundreds of motorists after issues were flagged up with their new Pay by Phone system.

Dad Tom Hosking, from Cuckfield, alerted them to the problem when he was charged £10.15 for parking in Marine Parade when he should have paid just £3.

He said: “It was frustrating because the onus was on me to chase it up.

“They made the mistake and I’m out of pocket. It’s been a nightmare trying to get through to anyone.

“I emailed the council but they only got back to me when I copied in The Argus.”

The council introduced the Pay by Phone system at selected parking machines across the city on September 16.

Smartphone owners simply use a special app to pay for parking by using a unique code relating to a location.

The price is the same as paying at the machine other than an additional 15p admin charge.

Mr Hoskings was visiting the city with his young son to go on the Brighton Wheel.

He said: “You hear a lot about the price of parking in Brighton so I was keen to avoid the multistorey car parks.

“I ended up parking in Marine Parade, and tried the new phone payment system.”

The dad selected four hours of parking for £3 on the phone app.

However, after checking his receipt days later he found he had been charged £10.15.

A council spokesman apologised and said Mr Hoskings had since been refunded.

He added: “We have investigated Mr Hosking’s query and found that an incorrect tariff had been applied to the machine he used in Marine Parade.

“We are very sorry about this and have issued a refund to Mr Hosking.

“We would like to thank Mr Hosking for bringing the matter to our attention.

“Pay by Phone will be contacting all drivers who parked in Marine Parade to establish whether they are entitled to a refund.

“We are now carrying out a review to ensure procedures are in place to prevent the same issue happening again.”