Sussex Ambulance Service is supporting council plans to clamp down on illegal and dangerous parking in Brighton and Hove.

For years thoughtless parking has created delays and difficulties for the service when responding to emergency calls.

The ambulance service has a requirement to respond to emergencies within precise time scales.

Targets can only be achieved if ambulances, response cars and motorcycles are not delayed or obstructed by illegal parking.

Brighton and Hove City Council is taking over parking enforcement from the police in July.

John Layhe, community liaison officer for Sussex Ambulance Service, said: "On a normal busy day the Sussex Ambulance Service will attend in excess of 500 emergency calls, some 40 per cent of which are within the Brighton and Hove city area.

"For a high percentage of life- threatening emergencies it is the seconds that count and for our paramedics to save lives then, clearly, there is a need for them not to be obstructed by illegal or selfish parking across access to buildings.

"The Sussex Ambulance Service looks forward to working with the city council to achieve our targets in the future."

Under the council's plans, parking attendants will replace traffic wardens on the streets, with more than double the current number on patrol at any one time.

East Sussex Fire Brigade, which regularly loses vital time on 999 calls because of thoughtlessly-parked vehicles has already welcomed the council's plans.

Alison Hermitage, lead councillor for transport on Brighton and Hove City Council and a local GP, said: "We welcome the support of the Sussex Ambulance Service and East Sussex Fire Brigade. Our new parking service will make roads safer and tackle congestion.

"Illegal parking is frustrating and time-consuming for all motorists but for the emergency services there is a real danger it could cost lives. Better enforcement is vital."