A newsletter for Parking attendants openly discussed targeting estate agents and made jokes about Essex girls.

The pamphlet, produced by parking firm NCP, has been condemned by motorists' groups who say it shows parking attendants have contempt for drivers.

It was deemed inappropriate by managers and shredded before it could be circulated but an investigation was under way today into how it got into the public domain.

The newsletter, meant for Brighton and Hove parking attendants, includes an item headlined Estate Agents, which names an attendant who "wants to start a competition where the aim is to ticket as many estate agents as possible".

The item goes on: "He will be discussing his plans with his colleagues over the coming weeks!!"

On the back of the document is a tasteless joke relating to Essex girls.

Steve Percy, of Brighton-based People's Parking Protest, said: "I have said for a long time I understood that there was a weekly competition.

"The competition was that everyone put in a fixed amount and at the end of the week, the one who issued the most tickets won the pot. It has always been strongly denied.

"This shows the contempt that some wardens have for motorists."

Mike Davies, president of the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association, said his members would be "shocked" to think they were being targeted and called for a public debate on whether parking should continue to be controlled by a private firm.

He said: "This doesn't surprise me to be honest.

"It is very sad if this is going on. I'm like everyone else in this city. All we want is a fair and just scheme for parking controls."

NCP operations support manager Andy Allardice said: "I didn't write the alleged newsletter and it didn't go out. The joke thing and the thing about the estate agents - once we saw that we said it couldn't go out. It seems someone has an axe to grind."

Parking attendants handed out 161,000 fines during 2002/03, an increase of 60 per cent on the previous year's total of 100,730, raising £3,362,157 in revenue.

Brighton and Hove City Council has ruled out a formal inquiry but said it would be discussing its concerns over the newsletter with NCP managers.

A spokeswoman said she was "appalled" by the Essex girl joke and the reference to estate agents.

She said: "All we want to do is ensure that we have safe parking and parking attendants only ticket those who have flouted parking regulations."