After an afternoon on the beach with his family, Adam Moore was heading back to his car when he noticed something strange.

His Ford Galaxy had been picked up, turned around and moved a few metres away.

Mr Moore had parked the car, with a disabled permit relating to his six-year-old son Robin on display, in Bartholomew's, Brighton, close to the main council offices.

The badge entitled them to up to three hours' parking on double-yellow lines.

But when he returned it had been moved on to a cross-hatched area marked "Keep Clear" and given a parking ticket.

Mr Moore, who was accompanied by his wife Tanya and five-year-old son Theo, insists his car was parked legally and claims Brighton and Hove City Council cheated in order to give him a ticket.

The council has admitted moving the car but said it did so because it was causing an obstruction.

Mr Moore, of Luxford Road, Lindfield, near Haywards Heath, said: "I can't see what obstruction I was causing and I can't figure out why it would be safer to move it somewhere where it says 'Keep clear'.

"The council seems to just want any justification to give someone a ticket. It was a complete shock to find one on the car."

A council spokeswoman said: "Disabled badge-

holders can park for three hours on double-yellow lines but they will be moved if they are causing an obstruction.

"That overrides the entitlement and will have prompted the ticket.

"Mr Moore's car was parked in a small road leading to a pedestrian area and no one could turn round. In the parking attendant's opinion, that was causing an obstruction.

"The car was moved a few spaces further down the road to a safer location. If it hadn't had a disabled badge, it would have been taken to the pound."