Drivers will now have their cars towed away if they double-park or park next to a dropped kerb anywhere in the city.

Brighton and Hove City Council has decided to take advantage of new legislation allowing them to penalise people for the actions, which until now have gone unpunished.

It published notice yesterday that it would be using the powers from next week.

It also revealed that a car will be considered to be double parked if it is more than 50cm away from the kerb.

Wardens will be able to issue fines to vehicles found breaching the rules and can order them to be towed away if necessary.

The council said the move would reduce problems on the city's roads but opposition councillors have argued it will exacerbate residents' frustration at the shortage of parking.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, leader of the opposition Labour group, said: "This is a misguided decision.

“People don't tend to double-park unless they really need to. In most cases it happens in areas where parking is really difficult and people have no other option.

"This means someone who gets home late and double parks when they can't find a space could have their car towed away."

The council said penalties for parking next to dropped kerbs would be used to stop people blocking access for cars, bicycles and pedestrians.

In theory it means they could fine or tow people for being parked at the end of their own driveway or garden path but the council said it did not intend to use the power that way.

It does not plan to penalise anyone parked on a dropped kerb outside a property with the owner's consent.

Fines will only be issued if a resident complains about a vehicle blocking their driveway.

A council spokesman said double-parked cars would be penalised in the same way as vehicles parked in controlled zones without the correct permit or ticket.

They will be fined up to £70.

The spokesman said: "For the first week warning notices will be handed out. But after that time parking restrictions will be enforced in the same way as any other parking restriction.

"Vehicles parked in the controlled parking zone will receive a visit a least twice a day. If they are outside then it will be enforced by our mobile patrol."

Coun Mitchell said the city's Conservative controlled council had the option not to implement the penalties but had chosen not to.

She said: "We support the enforcement of obstructive parking across all dropped kerbs. However, the other strict enforcements on parking will hit people that live in the city centre the hardest and residents should have had their say before this decision was taken."