Wheelchair users and mums with double buggies will be banned from low-floor buses under new regulations.

The rules put down under the Disability Discrimination Act have been slammed by the managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, Roger French, as "bureaucratic nonsense".

The rules stipulate only one wheelchair can be carried at a time in a location at the front of the bus, by a grab-pole in the gangway.

Mr French said: "The problem is, the bureaucrats who dreamt up these new rules didn't appreciate that this pole prevents double buggies from getting past and makes it much harder for wheelchair users to get to their designated space.

"The new rules don't make sense and end up pleasing no one. All our new low-floor double-deck buses now have to comply with the regulations, which means double buggies can no longer be walked on.

"It also means our single-deck buses bought in 1996 and 1998 cannot be used by wheelchairs, as they are not fitted with ramps.

"This is a great shame as the layout incorporated into our single-deck buses has been welcomed by wheelchair users."

The company has been pressing for greater flexibility in the new rules but accepts they are here to stay.

Once new signs arrive, wheelchairs will no longer be carried on Brighton and Hove's 36 single-deck low-floor buses, though double buggies will still be able to use them.

On the fleet of 64 low-floor double deck buses, wheelchairs will be limited to one per bus.

Mr French said: "I am also sorry to say the new pole means double buggies will no longer be able to be walked on these buses.

"The good news for wheelchair users is we have more low-floor double-deck buses coming."

Catriona Gardiner, of Kemp Town, Brighton, regularly catches the bus, taking her children Ewan, two, and Yvette, six months, with her.

She said: "We will now have to use the car, which will increase congestion. We used the bus and the double buggy in the summer to go to the seafront playground."