A rule banning more than three children's buggies on every bus has angered mothers.

They argue it restricts their travel options, will to lead to waits in the cold at bus stops during winter and cause chaos during the Christmas shopping period.

The Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company is enforcing a rule introduced at the request of drivers that no more than three unfolded buggies should be carried on a bus at any one time.

For the first time the rule has been publicised in the new bus timetable.

Gemma Wayne, 26, was surprised to learn of the enforcement when she was told she could not take a buggy carrying her 18-month-old son, Alex, home.

She was trying to catch the 1A bus to Mile Oak but was told there were already three people with unfolded buggies on board.

Gemma said: "I had an argument with the driver who told me about the three buggy rule. It was the first time I had heard about it.

"Luckily another bus came along soon afterwards, but if I had been on a bus on the outskirts of Brighton and Hove in the depths of winter, I could have had a long wait in the cold.

"I am angry a bus company can suddenly introduce a rule which will restrict the movement of young mothers and everyone who travels on a bus with a child in a buggy.

"The problem is not with people with buggies. It is with people who stand and sit at the front of the bus, and refuse to move down. Often they sit in seats for the disabled or mothers with children".

Another young mother angered at the rule is Kelly Peters, 21, of Court Farm Road, Hove.

She said she had to take her 17-month-old son, Billy, to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Brighton regularly.

Kelly said: "I use the 5B route a lot and this is the first time I have heard about the rule. I am worried I might be late for the appointments if the bus driver decides I can't get on a bus."

Paul Williams, operations manager of the bus company, said: "This is a company rule which was introduced at the request of the drivers. "Buggies are a growth industry and more and more people are getting on buses with buggies that vary in size.

"This is restricting passenger movement and we are drawing attention to the rule in the new timetable.

"It is up to the discretion of bus drivers as to whether they allow more than three on a bus, but we think three is the maximum that should be allowed at one time.

"We are introducing new buses where there is easier access for buggies and increasing the frequency on many routes."