Decorator Paul Andrews thought he'd won his battle against parking restrictions when a meter was removed from outside his home.

But less than a year later he is facing another parking clampdown, which he says is threatening his business.

Self-employed Mr Andrews, 40, fought last year against residential parking restrictions in Shirley Street, Hove.

Mr Andrews was furious when Brighton and Hove City Council put a ticket machine outside his window.

One side of the street became residents-only parking but residents on his side had to pay-and- display.

Instead of parking for free, Mr Andrews had to feed the machine to park the family car and pay an annual £104 charge to park the van he uses for his business outside his home.

After his fight, the council removed the meter and Mr Andrews agreed to pay an annual £58 charge to park his car as well as the fee for the business vehicle parking permit.

But he has now joined a campaign against the introduction of new parking charges for traders.

Each trader working in Brighton and Hove has to go to an office to collect a £3 waiver each time they want to park in an area subject to parking restrictions.

Mr Andrews, who was born in the city and has run his own business for 22 years, said: "I feel completely let down by local government.

"I have two children to support and I sat down last night and worked out I would be better off on the dole.

"Small businesses in this city are suffering and we will have to pass the extra charges on to the customer."

Mr Andrews bought a waiver to work in the city on Thursday but was still issued with a parking ticket for £30.

The council has said it will waive the fee but Mr Andrews said it was a bureaucratic nuisance.

He said: "I'm going to end up having to pay a minimum of an extra £800 a year. The council said it wasn't a money-making scheme but it certainly looks that way to me."

A council spokesman said: "The council thinks £3 a day is a very small charge for traders to pay.

"It compares very favourably with other cities. One borough in London charges traders £22.50 a day."