Parking charges in the city centre are set to rocket by up to 25%.

Brighton and Hove City Council, which raked in £7.4 million profit from motorists last year, is set to agree a range of changes to its tariffs.

Drivers in the city, who already face the highest parking costs outside of London, claim they are being treated as a “cash cow”.

The charges, which will be introduced from April, will contribute about £320,000 to the council’s budget for next year.

But critics claim the increases - the majority of which are above the 2% rate of inflation - will be a hammer blow to recession-hit residents and businesses.

Steve Percy, of independent motorist group the People’s Parking Protest, said: “I’m furious. As usual the motorist is being treated as a cash cow by the local authority.

“It’s completely unfair that the city’s drivers have to pay for this stealth tax. We are forced to foot the bill twice - as rate payers and through parking fees.”

In August The Argus revealed the council raked in £7.4million profit through parking in 2008/9 - a leap from £6.2 million profit in the previous year.

But the local authority has said the proposed rise is to match its inflation target of 2%.

The measures will see the price of the short-term stays of up to two hours increase in two of the four council-run car parks in the city centre.

London Road will be affected the most as charges for one and two hour stays in the newly-renovated car park increase by 25% and 18% respectively.

The cost of resident parking permits, on-street pay and display charges and fees for spaces on the seafront will also be increased.

Click here for a full list of parking charges across the country.