Worried parents have called for an inquiry after their children were filmed as part of a planning row.

They are being backed by Hove's Labour MP Ivor Caplin, who has accused local Tory councillors of using young children to make a political point.

The row blew up after two men were seen videoing and photographing children being dropped off at The Drive Preparatory School in The Drive, Hove.

At first they had no idea who they were and thought about calling the police to deal with the situation.

But they discovered that the photographers were taking pictures to back up claims that parents at the school were causing traffic congestion in the busy road.

One of them was Tory councillor Stephen Langston and the other was a man employed by local residents to carry out a traffic survey.

The school wants to expand and is currently seeking planning permission to use another building in The Drive.

Brighton and Hove planners are expected to decide the application on July 19.

Mr Caplin said some residents objected to the move and had asked local Tory councillors to fight it on their behalf.

He said: "This is potentially a very serious matter. It is certainly an improper way to behave and cannot in any way be condoned."

Sue Parkinson, head of the 54-pupil school, condemned the photography, which took place on June 6 and 7.

She said: "On the first morning there was a man dodging about, hiding behind trees and lamp-posts, taking pictures of the children as they were dropped off.

"On the second day a different man was there with a video camera doing the same thing. We have children aged from three to 13 and some of them were frightened by what happened.

"Even now, a month later, some of them still come in and ask, 'Why is that man standing outside the school?'

"We dash up to find it is someone waiting for a friend, or something. But it is a measure of the impact it made on the children that they are still concerned by it."

Contacted by the Argus, Coun Langston offered an immediate apology and said he had not intended to cause concern.

He said: "I am sorry for any misunderstanding.

"About 30 residents are worried about the extra traffic likely to be generated when the school expands and they asked me, as a local councillor, to represent their case.

"As part of that, I did go to the school and took 26 pictures of traffic, which include one or two at a distance with children in them.

"I did not see how it would be possible to carry out an objective survey if I told the school or parents in advance what I was doing."