Shops, businesses and charities say a residents' only parking scheme will drive them out of business.

From next Monday, Brighton and Hove City Council introduces the scheme in Zone N, stretching from Hove railway station to the seafront between Hove Street and St John's Road.

However, traders are only allowed two permits each.

They say this means their employees, customers or volunteers will have to pay at least £2 a day - about £500 a year - to park.

More than half of the people and two-thirds of businesses questioned in a council survey last year voted against the scheme.

More than 30 angry locals raised their concerns at a meeting organised by Lib Dem ward councillor Paul Elgood at the Cornerstone Centre on Saturday.

The Samaritans, based in Clarendon Road, could be forced to cut its 24-hour service if its 135 volunteers had to pay to park.

Mary, the branch director, said the scheme would add £6,800 to the charity's annual running costs.

She said: "Our volunteers give their time for nothing, we can't ask them to pay for parking."

Roy Merchant, of M&R Investments in Church Road, said: "People are going to move out of the area. They will not put up with it. If the council doesn't want these businesses it's going the right way to drive them out."

Keith Bryden, of Bryden's DIY and chairman of the local business association, said: "If customers are charged to park, they will drive out of town to the multiplexes where parking is free."

The scheme coincides with the council's clampdown on illegally- parked vehicles, when 60 parking attendants will hit the streets.

Project manager Tim Meredith said: "There are only a finite number of spaces. We have clearly had to do something."

He said the measures would be reviewed in six months.