New parking zones could be set up in Brighton and Hove.

A full review of the city's existing permit system and pay-and-display scheme will take place one year on from their introduction.

The review will look at how well the existing controlled parking scheme works and what can be done to improve it.

It will also examine the need to extend controls into areas where parking has become a problem since the new zones were set up.

These include the area around the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the Westbourne area of Hove.

Both have been affected by drivers using streets just outside the zones to avoid parking charges.

City council bosses have appointed JMP Consultants to carry out the review, which will take place in two stages.

The first will look at how well the schemes introduced in central Hove and Brunswick and Adelaide have worked.

Consultants will also look at the potential for new zones in the Westbourne and Hamilton Road area of Brighton.

Stage two will take place in a year's time. It will look at the remaining zones, giving priority to the Royal Sussex County Hospital scheme.

New zones will be considered in Queen's Park and in St James's Street and Bristol Road in Kemp Town.

Councillor Simon Battle, council transport spokesman, said: "Some areas of the city are suffering the displacement factor as motorists try to find free parking.

"We need to establish how badly this is affecting the ability of residents to park near their homes.

"We also need to find out how strongly they feel about us introducing new zones in their neighbourhoods."

Councillor Paul Elgood, Liberal Democrat group leader, criticised the council's decision to appoint the London-based consultants to carry out the review. He said: "It is a shame the council has not used its own staff as they have the local knowledge needed."