Residents last night warned of traffic problems if Brighton and Hove Albion gets the green light for 2,000 more seats at Withdean Stadium.

More than 200 were at a meeting about plans to expand seating at Withdean Stadium and raise concerns about parking problems and congestion.

People from Withdean, Westdene, and Patcham packed Westdene School Hall.

Colin Hilton, spokesman for Withdean and Westdene Residents' Association, which organised the meeting, said residents had been left in the dark about plans which would bring the total seating to over 9,000.

Of those at the meeting, only six had received notice of the proposals in the first instance from the council, he said.

"We had no idea whatsoever of the scale of what was being planned. Over the last few years we have been told the Albion would not stay at Withdean.

"We are not anti-Albion. We just know we cannot possibly cope with all this. It is completely the wrong place for a football stadium.

"Hundreds of cars go into the area to drop fans off, causing massive congestion which will only get worse if there are more seats.

"Hundreds of supporters go from Preston Park Station into Snakey Lane,an unmade road to the stadium.

"Fans leave litter and urinate in the lane. Windows have been broken.

"We are asking for proper talks with the council and the Albion. At the moment we feel we've got no voice."

Richard Hebberd, safety advisor for the Albion, said: "The council asked us to minimise parking within the area. To do that we've started a variety of free travel on buses and trains and a park-and-ride system, so there is very little parking within Westdene.

"There are three or four roads that we acknowledge are adversely affected and we've been working with the council and residents for some time to try to resolve these issues.

"It is our belief that the extra measures we are putting in place for the 2,000 extra seats will not increase the inconvenience to residents."

He admitted there was about ten or 15 minutes at the end of a game when large numbers of vehicles were moving about but said there was no congestion at other times.

Mr Hebberd added the Albion employed litter patrols to pick up football-related litter after the matches.

He said some details in the plans had been altered to deal with some of the concerns.

They include the siting of the toilets and fast food kiosks which had been moved away from Shepherds Croft.