A businessman has criticised parking regulations after being told he could not get a permit to load and unload a van.

Tim Staples, whose business is at Providence Place, Brighton, hires vans a handful of weekends a year when he sets up a stand at air shows.

But because he cannot tell Brighton and Hove City Council the registration number in advance he cannot get a permit to park while he is loading and unloading.

He said: "We export all over the world. We are world famous for what we do. We bring publicity to Brighton and we get nothing from Brighton, just bureaucracy."

His company, Diverse Images, makes pewter models of historic aircraft and military equipment.

He said: "I live in the North Laine and have a business in the city centre. I walk to work and deliberately choose not to own a vehicle because I don't think it's right.

"Instead I rent a vehicle if I need one to go away for work which would work fine if it were not for the traffic wardens.

"When I go away to air shows, which I do six or seven times a year, I am working 18-hour days and I do not have time to queue up for 40 minutes each time I rent a van to get a permit and I know I am going to get tickets.

"I am exactly the kind of person the council wants to encourage yet they are making it very difficult for me.

"We have got parking attendants now who shoot from the hip. I could be away from the vehicle for five minutes and I get a ticket."

The council said Mr Staples would not get a ticket if he was loading or unloading a commercial vehicle.

A spokeswoman said: "He can leave his vehicle as long as he is seen to be unloading."