A wave of protest is sweeping across Mid-Sussex as business leaders fight for a U-turn on a massive hike in parking fees.

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition against the increase which has led to some charges at council run car parks being doubled.

The petition, which was sent to companies by business organisation Sussex Enterprise, was in response to Mid Sussex District Council's decision to double the cost of some long term charges in towns across the area.

From April, charges for parking longer than four hours went up from £1.50 or £2.50 to £4, while season tickets doubled from £337 to £750. In addition, short term parking charges rose by 30 to 70 per cent.

Office and shop workers say they will have to park in residential areas as they are priced out of town centres.

The petition, which has a total of 3,268 signatures, is their way of appealing to the council to change its policy.

Stephen Roston, area director for Sussex Enterprise, said: "The huge response to this petition demonstrates the strength of feeling amongst the business community.

"These charges are already having a detrimental affect on the local economy, most car parks are standing virtually empty, employees on modest rates of pay are struggling to find the extra cash and residential areas are congested with more traffic.

"Mid Sussex Council must now surely reconsider its short-sighted actions. Businesses are outraged that they are not being listened to and demand that these charges are reduced and a sensible integrated transport system is put in place.

"We have made suggestions which would reduce the need for car parking but so far we have been ignored.

"Speaking as the voice of business we are strongly opposed to this decision. The council and its officers are desperately hoping that business and commuters will forget about the issues, that the furore will die away and we will all drift back into the car parks before the sixth month review.

"Hopefully this petition, which includes signatures from Burgess Hill and East Grinstead town councils, will force Mid Sussex District Council to take action sooner rather than later."

Bill Hatton, chief executive of Mid Sussex, said: "The charges had not been reviewed for five years so we had to bring them into line with other local authorities.

"In the short stay car parks the increases are less than those for long stay. This is because the purpose of the car parks is to provide spaces for shoppers and they are not to be filled up by commuters or people working in the town. These people should be catered for by employers.

"We will be reviewing the charges in the autumn and we will certainly take the petition into account when we do so."