City residents demanded action to ease chronic parking shortages at a heated public meeting last night.

The group argued about the best way to tackle car parking but all agreed the problem had become intolerable and something needed to be done.

They called for the abolition of two and four-hour parking bays and urged the free use of voucher spaces for residents.

The majority of the 30 residents at the Game Of Life pub in Upper Gloucester Road, Brighton, either had permits but were unable to park or felt they had been waiting too long for a permit.

Chairwoman Viv Meeson, of Buckingham Road, Brighton, said: "I have just called a meeting because we live here.

"I have a car but I have to park in Hove which I think is unfair to people in Hove. It is going to take ten months before I can get a resident's permit.

"What we need to do is free-up the two and four-hour parking spaces so we can issue more permits for our area."

Residents have to pay £80 a year for a permit but many have complained that even with the permit they are unable to park because there are not enough spaces.

Ms Meeson said: "I am concerned about the ticketing of residents in an area where people cannot find other places to park."

The meeting was attended by Councillor Paul Elgood, whose ward covers Brunswick and Adelaide.

He told the meeting: "My view is that there is nothing worse than being stuck without a permit and that you, as a group of residents, can put pressure on the council."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said the council would review the scheme as time went on and make adjustments if necessary.