Motorists may have been hit with invalid parking tickets over Christmas.

Parking restrictions in some parts of Brighton and Hove are not enforced on bank holidays - but wardens have been issuing fines anyway.

Maarten Kruizenga, of Norfolk Road, Brighton, checked the city council website and found his resident parking area, B, was one of those listed as exempt. His sister parked outside his home on Boxing Day but at 3pm a parking attendant issued a ticket.

Mr Kruizenga said: "I went out and told him parking restrictions weren't in force because it was bank holiday but he didn't want to know and said they had been told to issue tickets as normal."

Project manager Mr Kruizenga contacted the parking office and was told there had been a mistake and his ticket would be cancelled.

He said: "It just made me think how many other people have had these tickets and had paid them without question."

Parking restrictions are not enforced in areas A, B, D, E, F, G, J, K and L on bank holidays.

A council spokeswoman said: "Some zones were enforceable on Boxing Day and some weren't. If people think their ticket has been issued incorrectly then please get in touch with the council."

For a full list of exemptions, visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk