Parking protesters say people have been left in the dark over planned new parking zones in Brighton and Hove.

They said most of the people who would be affected by the scheme, which would merge eight central zones into two, know little or nothing about it, despite Brighton and Hove City Council closing the consultation process last week.

Steve Percy, chairman of the People's Parking Protest, said the consultation had been a "farce".

He said notices had been put up sporadically and lots of streets had none.

He said the plans, which should have been sent to every household, were instead sent to every house regardless of how many flats it contained.

Mr Percy said: "It is a disgrace. Hardly anyone knows about the plans, which will be atrocious for everyone in this area. This consultation has not been carried out properly at all."

Vinod Mashru, owner of Bright News, in Buckingham Road, Brighton, helped organise petitions against the proposals and said he was amazed how few people knew about them.

He said: "There has been a lack of information.

I have been having to tell my customers the email address to object to the council.

"The notices are just not very clear. They are easy to miss. There are not even many of them.

"A lot of people feel strongly about the parking situation but not many are getting the message of how they can object. The council has not made it clear enough."

A city council spokeswoman said: "Council staff went back to all the addresses of those living on the boundaries of the proposed new areas to alert them to the consultation.

"There was also a public exhibition where people could drop in and give their views, and a meeting with ward councillors.

"Following the first round of consultation, residents had a further period in which to comment following the publication of the traffic order."

Under the plans, 370 free two-hour and fourhour parking bays would be converted into shared spaces for residents and visitors, who would have to pay-and-display.

The council says the scheme would create 700 parking spaces but objectors claim more people would drive into town creating more congestion.