A Graffiti-Strewn car park has been likened to a painting by American artist Jackson Pollock and named one of the worst in Britain.

Writer Kevin Beresford has lambasted Brighton's London Road car park as one of the ugliest he has found in his new book Parking Mad.

The author, who last took municipal facilities to task in Roundabouts of Great Britain, claimed the concrete structure "must surely hold the record for the most banged-into' pillars".

Mr Beresford, head of the Car Park Appreciation Society, was commissioned by AA Insurance to tour 35 of the nation's car parks to discover the best and worst.

According to the AA, about 20 per cent of insurance claims for accidents and thefts arise from incidents in car parks and thousands more are never reported.

Mr Beresford said: "This is a really battered Brighton wreck of a car park. After driving along Brighton's beautiful seafront in all its Regency glory, it was an affront to be subjected to this sorry state of a car park.

"The pillars resembled a canvas from the American artist Jackson Pollock. It was not just paint scrapes: Some of the pillars looked as if they had received horrific clouts. The whole atmosphere felt claustrophobic and intimidating.

The Prince Regent would turn in his grave if he saw this mess."

Published by the AA, Mr Beresford's book is described as "a motoring voyage across Great Britain in search of car park heaven - and hell".

Mr Beresford claims St James's car park in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, is the best in the UK.

The multi-storey off London Road, Brighton, however, suffers from a collection of "rogue shopping trolleys and graffiti".

Mr Beresford continues: "By the time I had reached roof level my shoulders had drooped, I was praying for a sea view at least, but it was not to be.

"Graffiti and bleak chimney tops were the only things on show."

Brighton and Hove City Council, which manages the building, said: "London Road may not be the most fancy car park in the world but it provides a valuable service and a safe place to park.

"People generally visit car parks to park their vehicles rather than to enjoy the ambience."