A motorist in Hove was given a ticket by a traffic warden who admitted he was parked legally.

Brighton and Hove City Council then bungled his appeal against the penalty charge notice, insisting he pay the £30 fine.

Self-employed carpenter Steve Tinsley was parked in a two-hour bay when he saw a warden issuing him with a ticket.

When he confronted the woman, she admitted making a mistake but continued issuing the notice.

Mr Tinsley assumed he would be let off the hook when he appealed but was shocked to receive a letter from the council demanding he pay the fine.

The 50-year-old parked his Daewoo Nexia in Brunswick Square from 8am until noon. Cars are allowed to park in the street for two hours from 10am until 5pm, meaning his vehicle should have been safe until 12.01pm.

Mr Tinsley, from Portslade, said: "My job means I drive into Brighton and Hove frequently so I am well aware of the parking rules.

"I planned to park in Brunswick Square until 12pm when I was going to move my car to a bay somewhere else. When I came out to my car to move it, I saw the traffic warden issuing the ticket.

"When I told her I was allowed to be there for two hours, she said 'oh dear, I think I made a mistake.' I assumed if I appealed I would not have to pay."

The council has admitted the mistake and agreed to cancel Mr Tinsley's ticket.

A spokeswoman said: "We have made an error in this case and we are willing to cancel the parking ticket.

"The parking attendant thought the two-hour parking restriction came into force at 9am. We apologise to Mr Tinsley for this genuine mistake."

Mr Tinsley was given the ticket in October and is angry it has taken so long to resolve.

He said: "I am annoyed the council did not consider my appeal more seriously."