Parking machines that do not give change are providing council's across Sussex with thousands of pounds a week in stealth tax The Argus has discovered that Brighton and Hove City Council alone cashes in to the tune of £500 a week.

People unable to get the right change or who simply can't be bothered are pumping thousands of pounds extra into parking machines throughout Sussex. Councils say the money is ploughed back into transport projects.

The Argus asked the city council how much extra motorists were coughing up.

It looked at the eight machines outside its offices in Grand Avenue, Hove, during the first week of July. Total income for the week was £2,507.55 from 1370 transactions. Total number of occasions when customers paid too much was 19. This amounted to £5.55 or 1.39 per cent of transactions, or 69p per machine.

If this was common to all 694 machines across the city, then the council's extra income would amount to £481.46. The council stressed that their parking machines are no different to machines anywhere in the UK.

A city council spokeswoman said it was up to the customer to have the right money and urged drivers: Don't leave home without it. She said: "None of the pay and display machines gives change so it is up to the individual to be prepared.

"As pressure on transport systems and parking grows it will become increasingly necessary to plan your journey.

Asked why machines don't give change, the spokeswoman said: "Because each machine would have to be topped up with large amounts of money which would be a security risk. All surplus money collected is put into the pot to be spent on city transport improvements."

She was sympathetic towards motorists finding themselves angrily staring at parking machine with only two £1 coins in their hand to pay for a £1.50 one-hour parking ticket.

She said: "As part of the council's parking strategy we will be looking at alternative methods of payment such as debit cards."