A man has lost his fight to have every parking ticket in Brighton and Hove declared illegal.

The National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS) ruled that Brighton and Hove City Council's parking tickets were valid, against a claim by lawyers who said they were ambiguous and against the principles of the law.

The case was fought by barristers acting for Jamie Robinson, who says he was ticketed last year when he went to get change for a pay-and-display machine.

If he had won, the ruling would have set a legal precedent and rendered every parking ticket issued since decriminalisation in 2001 invalid.

Barrister Stephen Thompson had argued the wording on a fine his client received contravened the 1991 Road Traffic Act.

He argued that under the Act, parking notices should say "the penalty charge must be paid" rather than "you are required to pay a penalty charge".

The decision by NPAS confirmed the city council followed statutory guidance laid down by the Government for the wording on penalty charge notices.

Many local authorities were waiting for the outcome of the test case in parking rule challenges.

In his decision, the parking adjudicator said the council had given more information than needed on parking tickets. He said: "It is hard to conceive how any serious misunderstanding could occur."

Mr Robinson was backed by Brighton parking fines campaigner Mike Gurney, 48, who runs plumbing and heating company Glowzone.

Mr Gurney has been locked in a legal battle with the council for five years over fines totalling more than £17,000 and has already paid £5,000 in fines and spent £27,000 in solicitors' fees. But he said he has no plans to give up in the wake of the ruling.

He said: "I've been in this for five years and I wouldn't go this far if I didn't think we had a strong argument.

"I've always been prepared to take it to the High Court. The council didn't expect me to fight this far but pulling out is not on my agenda."

Mr Robinson's solicitor Stephen Sutton said: "We are surprised by the decision the adjudicator made and we are instructed to apply to the High Court for a judicial review.

"The battle may have been won on this occasion but the war isn't over."

But Councillor Roy Pennington said: "He will have to pay up. Contrary to his view that parking enforcement in Brighton is run like a protection racket, NPAS said the tickets were fair and valid.

"Only a misguided or disingenuous citizen would misunderstand the wording of the Notice to Owner."

Coun Gill Mitchell said: "This ruling vindicates the council's firm but fair approach to parking enforcement."