Unlawfully parked vehicles could be towed to a street near you after the closure of a car pound.

Cars left unlawfully in Brighton and Hove are now being moved to the nearest available free parking space rather than a secure lock-up.

They will be left on the road unclamped and a parking notice will be fixed to the vehicle.

Motorists will then have to call either the council or the police to try and locate their car.

The change in policy has come after Brighton and Hove City Council closed part of its operation at its car pound in Sackville Road, Hove, for a one month trial.

The local authority claims the decision will be quicker for drivers.

They also say it will save money for the council and motorists.

But with parking spaces at a premium and large portions of the city residents' parking only, it means some drivers could face a long trek to recover their car in already congested roads.

There are also fears that cars could be vandalised and that motorists will be left wondering if their vehicles had been stolen.

Parking campaigner Steve Percy described the decision as “ridiculous”.

He said: “It seems they are just moving the goalposts and shifting the problem onto somebody else.

“There are not any free parking spaces in the city centre so the cars could be moved a long way from where they were originally parked.

“It is not solving problems, just creating more.”

The decision to roll out the pilot scheme was taken last week although no official notice was made.

All those vehicles parked in suspended bays or causing obstructions will be placed in a parking space as close as possible to the original location.

Motorists will have to call either the council or Sussex Police to try and locate where their unclamped car has been taken.

They will then pay a standard £70 parking fine instead of the £105 release fee.

It is believed the local authority, which must make £30 million of savings in the next financial year, has closed the car pound to avoid paying the maintenance costs and staff wages.

The amount of money saved by the closure will not be known until after trial.

A council spokeswoman said: “This is for a trial period to see whether the council can make the service more cost effective and efficient.

“The new system is potentially quicker and so it may be that we will be able to move obstructing vehicles faster.

“For the vehicle owner it means that they pay the cost of a penalty charge notice rather than the higher cost of the car pound and it means they are less inconvenienced as vehicles will be relocated to the nearest appropriate space.

“The council will make a decision as to future operations once the trial is complete.”

• To locate your car call Brighton and Hove City Council on 01273 294296 or Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

Should the council keep its car pound open? Or is this a good solution to the problem of illegally parked cars?