Motorist Helen Ward picked the wrong moment to leave her car outside her home in central Hove.

She was inside her house in Haddington Road for only a minute but when she returned she had a parking ticket.

The ticket confirms she was parked illegally from 9.33am to 9.34am yesterday morning.

Ms Ward said: "We were just taking some stuff out of the car and literally parked outside for one minute and then saw there was a ticket.

"I think it is absolutely ridiculous if you can't park outside your house for one minute.

Ms Ward and her partner David had gone to the shops for groceries and left the car while they were unloading the bags.

She said she could not afford to pay the discounted £30 fine in the next two weeks so would have to pay the full £60.

Brighton and Hove City Council said Ms Ward was welcome to appeal.