A regular donor is calling for parking charges to be waived for people who are giving blood.

Peter Groves says he has struggled to find a parking space and faces charges of up to £3 a time when he donates blood at Hove Town Hall.

He believes offering donors a free car parking voucher could help increase numbers.

Mr Groves, 50, is from Hove but works in Newhaven.

He said: "I usually try to tie in donating blood with coming home from work. Years ago the whole process of giving blood used to take about an hour but it has increased to two hours because of all the health checks.

"That is not a problem and I have no intention of stopping but trying to get a parking space can be so difficult. I remember one time in February it was getting late and I was driving around and around in the rain after coming straight from work.

"In the end it was just so impossible I had to give up and go home."

Mr Groves wrote to the National Blood Service because he felt the parking problems might put off other donors.

He said: "I had a response back saying they were aware of the problem in Brighton and Hove and had a number of discussions with the council to encourage it to provide free parking for blood donors but nothing had come of it.

"That makes me angry. People are giving up their time to try and help save another person's life but they are still having to fork out."

Mr Groves said it was not always easy or convenient for people to use a bus, especially if they were coming straight from work.

Mairead McLaughlin, of the National Blood Service, said parking fees were a council matter.

She said: "The National Blood Service blood mobile unit has visited Hove for several years and parked at the town hall.

"Currently blood stocks collected in Hove are good and we appreciate the time taken by those who come forward to donate. The demand for blood never stops and blood cannot be stored indefinitely. It is imperative existing donors continue to give blood regularly while new donors come forward."

Brighton and Hove City Council parking manager Dick Davey-Thomas has given blood for 30 years.

He said: "You don't necessarily need a car to go and give blood as the venues are easy to get to by other means.

"Mr Groves lives in Hove and there are sessions at the town hall which is easily accessible by bus.

"But even if you do use a car it is only 70p for two hours or £1 for three hours in Norton Road car park, directly opposite.

"The National Blood Service gives you a choice of venue and you can even book a timed appointment to suit you, so it shouldn't take as long as two hours.

"Because the venues are accessible with cheap parking nearby it is unlikely the council would consider waivers."

For details of all venues and donor sessions in Brighton and Hove and the rest of Sussex go to www.blood.co.uk or call 08457 711711.