Resident parking bays across central Brighton are becoming a free for all as restrictions are not being enforced.

Almost every parking bay from Seven Dials to the coast is being changed as eight parking zones are merged into two larger areas.

Last month it emerged that while work is in progress, rules governing new pay-and-display bays, as well as dual resident and pay-and-display bays, in the affected zone would not be enforced by parking wardens.

After a flurry of complaints from residents who have had their spaces taken up by shoppers and businesses, the council has now admitted it is also not ticketing motorists in bays normally reserved for permit holders.

This means until April 8 when the new north zone, or Y, is introduced only double and single yellow lines, loading bays and disabled bays will be enforced. The same free-for-all is now expected in the south zone, or Z, as work starts later this month.

Paul Watkins, 52, of Powis Road, Brighton, called for the council to refund his £80 resident permit. He said: "It is a free zone and it is creating a lot of tension. We have nearly seen fist fights because residents have not been told bays are not enforceable.

"We should be given a refund because we haven't got anywhere to park. People are driving in to do their shopping and parking in Powis Road and Victoria Street because it is close to town. When I leave my office at 5pm, I end up driving around for half an hour before finding somewhere to park."

Steve Percy, chairman of the People's Parking Protest, said: "There were not enough spaces to start with and now anybody can park here. The builders are taking a liberty all the time and taking up the parking which is meant for residents. The permits are not worth the paper they are written on."

Mr Percy is set to meet council officers later this month to discuss the problems.

Green councillor Simon Williams will also be taking parking bosses around the area to highlight the difficulties faced by residents.

He said: "The council is making a real pig's ear of the introduction and local people deserve better."

But the council said the scheme could not have been introduced any other way.

A spokeswoman said: "Until the new area Y scheme comes into force, all the council can do is advise people who don't have a residents' permit not to park in residents' bays.

"After the new traffic regulation order begins on April 9 anyone parking in residents' bays without a permit will get a ticket as you'd expect.

"Replacing all the road markings and parking signs and installing pay and display machines in the city centre is a huge job which unfortunately can't be achieved without some disruption.

"However, people have been remarkably good natured about it and we've had very few complaints, the council would very much like to thank people for their cooperation."