The first traffic warden to patrol Mid Sussex in more than two years is having little impact on illegal parking, according to traders.

Brian Patfield has been dishing out dozens of tickets daily since he began patrolling the streets last month but drivers are still flouting the law.

Dozens of cars were parked on single yellow lines in Church Road, Mill Road and Crescent Road in Burgess Hill yesterday.

In Haywards Heath the situation was no better, with cars parking illegally throughout the town centre.

Eric Collard, owner of Disco Furnishings in Church Road, Burgess Hill, said: "So far there has been little to no effect on parking whatsoever. I don't blame him as he has got a mission impossible.

"When he is around people shift their cars and the road is clear for half an hour but as soon as he goes, we are back to square one."

One newsagent in The Broadway, Haywards Heath, said: "People are really fed up. The problem is there are not enough places for people to park legally.

"I have seen the warden around here a few times but I have not noticed him making any difference at all."

Inspector Roy Apps, of Sussex Police, said: "Brian has been very busy in the first two weeks and has been running out of ticket books.

"He is concentrating at the moment on clearing areas which are particularly dangerous to the public."