There's no two ways about it. Parking is one of the biggest money-spinners in Brighton and Hove.

Thousands of residents pay about £100 a year for permits while astute parking wardens collect a small fortune from careless motorists.

With car parks across the city charging up to £15 for 12 hours it is unfortunate that many fail to reflect the king's ransom they bring in.

A trawl of the biggest multi-storeys showed while some are light, bright, clean and secure, others in more tucked-away sites remain dingy and slightly seedy.

Great efforts have been made in recent years to improve the worst sites but there is still work to be done.

The answer, of course, is to reduce the need for city driving with a decent park-and-ride system keeping the streets clear of shoppers' and visitors' cars.

In the meantime, as motorists continue to line the pockets of NCP, the council and other car park owners, it is only fair they are given a safe and pleasant place to park.