Red-faced Sussex Police and traffic wardens were caught short when they found themselves with no parking or speeding tickets to issue.

Fixed penalty fines went up yesterday, but the thousands of newly-printed notices had to be sent back to the printers.

An error meant the tickets could not be read properly by computers.

Printers last night were working flat out to produce new tickets. Sussex Police said they should be ready by tomorrow.

Spokesman Chris Oswick said: "I hope people will bear with us for the time being.

"What I must stress is that there is no relaxation of the laws and regulations and anyone trying to take advantage of the situation will still be fined or prosecuted."

Fixed penalties for minor offences such as failing to wear seat belts, parking on yellow lines or driving in restricted areas, breaking driving bans in Brighton town centre, went up from £20 to £30.

Those for more serious offences such as causing an obstruction and speeding rose from £40 to £60. These are endorsable offences and offenders also receive penalty points on their licences.

Andy Allardice, traffic warden supervisor in Brighton, said: "The tickets wouldn't work with our computer system, but we have still been out on the streets and we are still towing vehicles away where necessary.

"If we see someone illegally parked they will be reported and they will still be fined. The only difference is that they won't find tickets on their windscreens."