A blitz on illegal parking and abandoned vehicles which could put lives at risk has been launched by police in Hove.

Police, council and fire brigade bosses have joined forces to tackle the problem in Hove.

They are worried lives could be put at risk if the menace of dangerous and double-parked cars is left unchecked.

The Westbourne area has been plagued by illegally-parked vehicles since new parking zones were introduced last year.

Streets such as Westbourne Villas and Aymer Road have been badly hit by drivers taking advantage of free parking in roads just outside the new zones.

The number of dumped vehicles in the area has also increased as a result.

The joint initiative by the police and other agencies has been codenamed Operation Crackdown. Letters have already been delivered to homes in Westbourne and Wish wards warning unauthorised echelon parking and double parking is illegal and that vehicles can be towed away.

It was followed yesterday by notices being put on individual vehicles informing owners their details had been recorded.

They were warned they would be prosecuted if the cars were illegally parked in the area again.

The move was welcomed by residents of Aymer Road who have threatened to barricade their street to prevent commuters and shoppers from parking there.

William O'Hara said: "I have lived here for six years and the problem has got worse since the council brought in the new parking zones.

"We have cars parked all over the road, on the pavements and across people's drives.

"My car has been parked in the same spot for a week. I haven't used it because I know I won't be able to park here again if I go out in it.

"It has got so bad I have sold my house and I am moving away because the parking has become a nightmare round here."

John Ticehurst, assistant divisional officer at Hove fire station, said illegal parking was potentially putting lives at risk.

He said: "In some of the narrower streets it is sometimes impossible to get our vehicles through because of double parking.

"If we are called to a fire we need a certain amount of space to get the ladders off the vehicles and through to the buildings involved.

"If there is not enough room between parked vehicles that is going to delay us and the bottom line is it could cost lives."

Sergeant David Bettiss, of Hove police, said the parking blitz would continue for the foreseeable future.

He said: "The action today on echelon and double parking is only one part of the whole operation.

"Just as important is ridding the streets of the wrecks of cars and vans that have blighted the area for too long."

Brighton and Hove City Council is reviewing the new parking zones and considering if they should be extended.

A traffic enforcement officer, who took part in yesterday's crackdown, said: "Aymer Road is not the worst affected by any means.

"Something does need to be done to organise the parking around here because at the moment we have a mixture of echelon and normal parking."