Welcome to what could be Britain's most expensive car park.

You could be charged £50 to stop for a couple of minutes if you park in the wrong section of The Lanes multi-storey on Brighton seafront.

That is what happened to cameraman Alastair McCormick, who said: "I don't even see it as bureaucracy. I would describe it as a trap."

The car park is owned by Brighton and Hove City Council, which offers most of the spaces at the rate of £1.60 for an hour. But it rents some to the Thistle hotel, which has a separate entrance. Non-residents parking in this area face a charge of £50.

Mr McCormick, 39, who works for the BBC, unwittingly used the entrance when he arrived in the city late at night to stay at the nearby Queen's Hotel.

Once Mr McCormick, from Carlisle, had parked he realised his mistake and went to the hotel's reception.

He said: "I asked if I could be allowed out to go in through the right gate. I said I had made a mistake but the woman said no."

He was forced to leave his car, knowing its overnight stay would cost significantly more than his hotel.

Mr McCormick said: "The sign says 'priority to residents', it doesn't say 'just residents'.

"Admittedly it does say further down that you can be charged £50 if you are a non-resident but when you are driving in the rain and dark at 10.30pm you don't notice that."

Martin Vincent, operations manager for the Thistle, said he wanted to speak to Mr McCormick before commenting. But it is understood the problem occurs regularly and the hotel usually allows motorists to leave within 20 minutes without paying.

Mr McCormick said he had been offered a refund but had already claimed the fine on expenses.