Driver Peter Sayers is so angry about parking fines and congestion in Brighton and Hove that he has set up a political party to tackle motoring issues.

Mr Sayers is looking for a candidate to champion drivers in the Hangleton and Knoll by-election for Brighton and Hove City Council.

The Motorists, Equity and Unity Party is a single-issue group which hopes to mirror the success of the anti-European UK Independence Party.

Its first foray into the political arena will be the by-election called following the death of Labour councillor Gerry Kielty.

Interviews to find a candidate are under way.

Mr Sayers, 65, says the ME & U party will campaign against parking fines and poor traffic management and for the replacement of speed traps. The retired psychiatric nurse, of Southfield, Polegate, has received more than £350 in parking fines from Brighton and Hove City Council in the past year.

The party founder and secretary hopes to challenge a speeding fine in court.

He claims he was snapped driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone in the middle of the night.

He said: "It is the treatment of drivers in Brighton and Hove which has prompted the formation of this party.

"We want to see a bustling city without queues of traffic from Preston Circus to the Palace Pier.

"I've always been interested in transport and have suggested they separate through traffic and local traffic at Kingsway to end congestion.

"Driving from east Brighton to Hove is like Hampton Court maze.

"I lived in France for four years but every time I came back to my home town I was hammered. My car was taken to the pound twice even though I had broken down.

"We are all being taken to the cleaners and have to start campaigning to change that.

"I'm just trying to find a compromise with the system they have because it's so unfair."

The new party has drawn up a 12-point manifesto and members are expected to follow the party line on all motoring issues.

Any candidates elected to the council will call for a one-way system in the city centre and improved bus services.

They will also campaign for more parking in Hove, ticket machines to replace vouchers in Brighton and smaller fines for drivers who get back to paid parking bays late.

The "centre-left" party also has policies on paedophilia and education.

Party leaders oppose the war in Iraq and support a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The Labour candidate in the by-election, Eddy Sears, 56, was confident he would retain the ward for the party despite the new challenge from the motoring lobby.

A retired Royal Mail manager from Hangleton, Mr Sears said: "Labour is not anti-car.

"We favour good public transport to help cut down on car journeys and congestion.

"I also want to see tough action on untaxed vehicles and parking abuses."

The election will be held on Thursday, October 7, and contested by all four political parties already represented on the council.

The notice of election was published yesterday and the close of nominations will be at noon on Friday, September 10.