When a diner spotted his car being hoisted on to a tow truck he abandoned his curry and sped into action.

The man, in his 30s, ran out of a restaurant to remonstrate with the parking wardens. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.

His white Ford Mondeo had, say onlookers, been parked on double-yellow lines in Preston Street, Brighton. The attendants were only doing their job.

With no other course of action open, he tried a last-ditch option and sprawled out in the road in front of the enormous truck.

Unable to back up in the narrow street, the truck driver could only sit, wait and call the police.

The stand-off drew the attention of those dining al fresco in the busy thoroughfare.

George Shahata, 27, who manages the nearby Medusa Bar, said: "The guy popped his head out the door and saw his car about to get towed away. He rushed out to speak to the driver, "When that didn't get him anywhere he decided to sit in front of the truck and kept saying he wasn't going to move."

As the crowd grew, cheers began to ring out for the mystery man's stand against the system.

But the protest was short-lived.

Police arrived and explained his demonstration was causing traffic mayhem.

He accepted it was a lost cause and forlornly stepped aside to watch as his sleek family saloon disappeared, bound for the pound, adding £135 to his night out.

Mr Shahata, said: "He seemed to be quite a cool guy. He didn't lose his temper at all and didn't seem to be drunk or anything. He just wanted his car back.

"The whole street was cheering and shouting. He was getting a lot of support from everyone as most people round here think the traffic wardens are out of order a lot of the time.

"People should just get a parking ticket, which is upsetting enough. It is especially annoying to have your car towed away."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council advised against following in the man's footsteps.

She said only dangerously or inappropriately parked vehicles would be towed away and it took at least 20 minutes for the truck to arrive.

"Once the car has been attached to the tow, we can't put it down again as the decision has been made. We would ask people not to sit in front of the truck.

"If they feel they have been dealt with unfairly they have can challenge the decision by taking it to the independent adjudicator."