Parents caught parking on zig-zag lines outside a school are to get £60 fines and three points on their driving licence.

Police officers patrolling the Whitehawk and Manor Farm estates in Brighton agreed to take action after complaints were made by other parents and residents.

Complaints about the illegal parking outside St Mark's Primary School in Manor Road, Manor Farm, Brighton, were made by residents at the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum yesterday.

One resident said the illegal parking was causing congestion for motorists.

Another resident said: "It's really desperate now. There will be an accident."

Sergeant Tony Lumb, who was at the monthly meeting at the Valley Social Centre, Whitehawk Way, Brighton, said enforcing the zig-zag lines was the responsibility of the police.

However, other yellow lines were now the responsibility of traffic wardens.

Mr Lumb said parents whose children were at the school would be warned that parking on the lines was illegal and if they chose to ignore the warning, they would receive a fixed penalty ticket.

He said he would contact the school's headteacher to have a letter sent to all parents warning them of the action.

He said: "It's an offence I can action. It's a £60 fine and three points. It's up there with speeding and going through a red light."

Mr Lumb said once parents had been warned of the clampdown, he would then begin regular patrols before Christmas to fine offenders.

"It's a huge punishment just before Christmas. We will fly the flag and then go down there straight away."