Residents are fuming after being told they can no longer park at a bus-stop - even though buses do not stop there any more.

Buses use the stop at Furze Hill in Hove in the evenings and on Sundays but have bypassed it during the day since their route changed last September.

Residents say they have been Parking at the stop with the blessing of traffic wardens for months.

But Furze Court resident and disabled badge holder Graham Hallett found circumstances had changed when he got a parking ticket last weekend.

He now says he would rather go to prison than pay the fine on a matter of principle.

Mr Hallett, 65, who lives opposite the bus stop, said: "I rushed out and told the warden it was not a normal bus-stop but he said as far as he was concerned it was.

"I asked him to call his supervisor and she came out and double parked while she was talking to us, holding up all the traffic.

"Three weeks ago I asked a traffic warden if I was all right to park there and he said 'Yeah mate, the bus is not running so you're OK'.

"It turns out a lot of other residents were given permission as well. It's diabolical, I will not be paying my fine. I would rather spend three months in jail. I am still going to park there and I don't care if I get 50 tickets."

Mr Hallett said there were parking spaces in front of his flat but it was normally impossible to find a space.

His wife Susan is unable to walk unaided.

A council spokeswoman said anyone parking in a bus-stop was liable either to be fined or towed away.

She said: "If we allow people to park in one bus- stop then that leaves the way open to others. We can't give permission for one lot of residents and not others.

"Parking in bus-stops has been a major problem and is one of the main things we are trying to address.

"If these residents want to write to us about their situation, it is something we could look at as part of our six month review."

Roger French, managing director of the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, said: "If there are traffic regulations in place they need to be enforced."