Empty driveways and garages are to be rented out over the Internet in a bid to cash in on parking problems.

A new website has been set up which allows Brighton and Hove residents with a driveway or resident's parking space to cure the city's parking pains and earn money from it.

Only one Lewes resident has so far signed up to the scheme, parkatmyhouse.com, but its owners predict success in areas such as Hanover and Seven Dials in Brighton where parking is at such a premium.

Maths graduate Anthony Eskinazi, 23, from North London, had the idea after attending a baseball game in San Francisco, where he saw hundreds of cars queuing to enter the stadium's car park but empty spaces in front of nearby houses.

He hopes to make money by charging a ten per cent commission on all successful transactions.

His co-founder and childhood friend, Katie Harvey, 23, said: "We believe it's something which will benefit a broad cross-section of people.

"We have received an overwhelmingly positive response to the idea and Anthony and I are confident that it will change the way people think about parking."

Besides homeowners renting out their spaces while they are at work during the day, they are hoping businesses, including supermarkets, will cotton on and rent out their spaces when they are closed.

Residents sign up to the site and give details of their parking space and preferred rate. Drivers needing a space then search by postcode or place for their destination.

The advertiser and driver contact each other and agree a price. Homeowners in London have arranged deals scooping them up to £5,500 a year.

The free-to-use parkatmyhouse.com focuses on driveways and parking spaces near to popular venues such as Withdean stadium at weekends, theatres and popular pubs.

But it is likely to be popular wherever there is insufficient parking space, almost everywhere in Brighton and Hove.

On Friday, The Argus reported that Brighton and Hove City Council will be suspending parking on a street-by-street basis across Brighton centre while a new scheme is implemented, starting on January 22.

It is part of a council plan to merge Brighton's eight controlled parking zones into two larger areas by mid-May.

In July last year parking charges across the city were increased with NCP car parks now costing up to £15 a day.

The new parking site's interactive map system will show motorists where available spaces are located, local services nearby, how much the space costs and relevant additional details such as whether the space is secure or lit.

A calendar feature displays availability and when a space is booked, the owner will immediately receive a text message alerting them.

Contracts are automatically generated. If motorists do not find a space which matches their requirements, they can request automatic notification when one does become available.