A charity's running costs are set to rocket by a quarter following the launch of a new parking scheme.

Staff at Brighton Sea Cadets, based in Brewer Street, estimate they will need to fundraise more than £2,500 each year after their headquarters was included in the Lewes Road Triangle parking zone.

The group was sent special parking permits to accommodate the change – only to be later told to destroy them as they were issued in error.

Claire Jackson, chairwoman of the charity, said: “It’s not fair, why should the children lose out because of this. It is a lot of money and I think people don’t realise how expensive it is to run a voluntary group like this.

“I’m sure we are not the only group in the city to have problems and something has to be done.”

The group, which was set up more than 70 years ago, provides opportunities and experiences for young people with a naval theme. Running costs for the Brighton branch are more than £10,000 with outgoings on insurance, maintenance, travel and much more.

Staff estimate the cost for volunteers to park throughout the year to be £2518 – nearly £50 a week.

The parking zone, which includes streets between Upper Lewes Road and Lewes Road, between the Vogue Gyratory and down to Union Road, was voted for by Brighton and Hove City Council members in October last year.

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Conservative group at the council, is backing the charity and sent a letter of support to local authority chief executive Penny Thompson.

He said: “The Brighton Sea Cadet Unit, which has been established in these premises since the 1930s, cannot be unique amongst voluntary organisations in the city in experiencing these problems with new controlled park zones (CPZs).

“Given that we all presumably want to encourage community organisations, and their many volunteers who give up so much of their time, across the city to flourish, I am requesting that officers bring a report to the next meeting of this committee (March 17) presenting some possible solutions to this specific problem with the Sea Cadets and the wider issue of community organisation parking.”

One option put forward is to introduce special community group permits.

A council spokesman said: "It wouldn’t be right to favour one organisation over another. So the environment committee has asked for a report so that a proper democratic decision can be made based on facts. “If a new system is introduced, it needs to be fair to all voluntary groups - as well as to residents and businesses.”