CYCLISTS raised safety fears after a pizza van parked next to a seafront bike lane.

The van was spotted next to the lane in Hove at about 6pm on Monday, just as many commuters were making their way home from work.

The pizza company, Pizza Post, said it was not selling pizzas at the time.

But Chris Todd, a campaigner for Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, said: “I just think it’s crazy, it’s creating conflict between pedestrians and cyclists and it’s badly thought out.

"I'm not against pizzas but it needs to not create dangerous situations.

“People are having to dash to the cycle lane and then stand in the cycle lane. I’m sure there can’t be many worse places.”

A spokesman for The Pizza Post said: "It merely stopped near that location for a general check.

"The people in the picture are our staff members and not customers. We did not serve pizzas at that location.

"We highly value the safety of our customers and staff and we would not give instructions to our staff that might jeopardise their, or someone else's, safety."

The cycle lane has already proved controversial.

The new lane, added during the Covid lockdowns, has parking running alongside it, meaning that cyclists have to contend with obstacles such as car doors opening.

Cycling campaign group Bricycles said: “Bricycles loves pizza nearly as much as we love protected bike lanes, which make everyone safer.

“Hopefully the person in the van will ensure any queue runs parallel to the bike lane, so that people can continue to enjoy both.”

Brighton and Hove City Council was approached for comment.