New parking bays in one Hove street are so narrow that drivers have to exit their cars through the back hatch because there's no room to open the doors.

Council bosses say the herringbone bays in Tisbury Road, which stick out at 45 degrees to the pavement, meet Government width guidelines.

But residents are calling on the council to start again and mark out wider bays.

They said the decision to put the bays facing the direction of travel makes it impossible to reverse in, leading to frequent bumps and making it dangerous to back out into traffic.

Lesley Baker, a tree surgeon, said: "A lot of people have ended up having to climb through the boot. You can't get in the conventional way whatsoever.

"If there are cars either side of you, it is sometimes impossible to get the doors open wide enough to get in or out.

"Parents have also had problems getting child safety seats in and out of their cars.

"If we drive into the bays, we will have to reverse out again when we leave.

"This is a busy road which is also on a bus route and it is dangerous to reverse when your view is obstructed by parked cars."

A father, who did not want to be named, said: "A lot of residents have complained. We have difficulty getting our two children in and out of the car.

"I am also a cyclist and there usually isn't enough space to get my bike between cars parked outside when I come home."

Julie Baker, chairman of Tisbury Road Residents' Association, said: "They are too narrow and face in the opposite direction to the traffic flow.

"It makes it almost impossible to reverse into them and you end up backing into the car next to you.

"My car has got two or three dents where people have backed into me. The council has made a complete cock-up of this and it needs re-designing."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said there was nothing wrong with the bays.

She said: "The lines for echelon parking in Tisbury Road are painted correctly. The bays are not facing in the wrong direction.

"Echelon parking is designed for motorists to drive into the bays and reverse out. This avoids exhaust fumes from reversing cars being emitted directly onto the pavements and into people's homes.

"Motorists can reverse safely from these bays when they leave the parking space.

"The bays are not too narrow and people should have no problems getting in and out of their vehicles if they park correctly.

"The size of the bays is within Government guidelines and they have been subject to an independent safety audit."