Worthing Mayor Eric Mardell is to write to car park firm NCP to complain that new charges are driving potential theatregoers away.

The Connaught Theatre in Union Place, Worthing, has been the focus of a controversial scheme under which patrons face a threefold hike in parking charges to see evening shows.

Theatregoers paid a flat £1.10 rate when the car park operated on an attendant-based system but will now have to fork out more than £3 to see a show after the car park switched to a 24-hour pay-and-display system.

Councillor Mardell, who took his wife Elizabeth to the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King And I at the theatre on Friday, said: "I'm not happy about it.

"What pressure we can bring to bear on NCP I don't know but I shall certainly write to say how it has affected takings at the Connaught."

Josephine Feest, president of the Worthing Musical Comedy Society, which staged The King And I, said: "I think it's awful because people have been coming in and saying they couldn't afford a programme after paying for parking.

"Theatres have enough trouble keeping going and we don't want them to disappear, especially the Connaught."

NCP management has indicated the company is willing to discuss a reduced-rate parking voucher, obtainable from the Connaught, for people attending the theatre.

Coun and Mrs Mardell were greeted by members of the society when they attended the show.

Set in Bangkok in the early 1860s, the musical is a the story of Anna Leonowens, brought to the court of Siam as tutor to the King's 67 children.

Coun Mardell, who met his wife through their association with the society, said: "It was absolutely brilliant. Stunning costumes and professional performances all round."