A mother given a parking ticket on double-yellow lines which are no longer in use says parking restrictions are driving her out of town.

Lenka Goodman believed she had parked her car legally overnight around the corner from her home in Hove.

However, when she returned the next day she discovered a parking ticket on the car.

Mrs Goodman, 32, said: "There was nowhere to park in Cowper Street where I live, so I left the car in St Patrick's Road. There was a clear end to the new double-yellow lines and then faint marks where the old lines used to be.

"Apparently, a car had been parked in the next space when they were removing the old markings and they were unable to burn them away.

"Nobody had been back since to finish the job but it was obvious the old lines were no longer in force as the 'no parking' signs had been taken down."

Mrs Goodman said traffic calming measures in the Poets Corner area had led to some yellow lines being removed.

New lines were introduced around corners at junctions and lines no longer needed were burned away.

Mrs Goodman, an administrator with BUPA, said parking had been made more difficult in Poets Corner, where parking is free, after permits were enforced in neighbouring roads.

She and her husband Mark are so frustrated , they have sold their home and are moving away with their one-year-old daughter Aliette.

Mrs Goodman said: "We get commuters using Hove station and shop owners and customers from George Street here all day because they don't want to pay to park. It is the main reason we have decided to move away.

"We have bought a nice new house with a garage near Foredown Tower in Portslade because we are sick of the parking here.

"I have got 14 days to appeal against the ticket but it is going to be hard to find the time because I am so busy with the move and Christmas."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: "Details of how to appeal are shown on the back of the ticket.

"If Mrs Goodman feels she has a good case she should appeal against it.

"She will not have to pay the fine until after Christmas as it will be frozen until a decision is made about her appeal."