The council said allotments would be replaced if any were lost

They handed over a petition with more than 5,000 signatures, and six campaigners were given five minutes to state their case to councillors.

The full council meeting took place on Thursday evening at Brighton Town Hall.

Sites at Patcham Court Farm and Braypool are being considered for a park and ride, accommodating between 900 and 1,500 vehicles.

Protesters fear homes and allotments would be lost if the scheme got the go-ahead at Patcham Court Farm.

Combat congestion

They object to the other proposed site, on a sports field at Braypool, because they say it would lead to the closure of a nearby RSPCA operation.

Jenny Wells, from the animal charity, said: "It would be absolutely devastating for the RSPCA.

"Most of the local animal charities are already full, so where would the animals go?"

Brighton and Hove City Council said a new park and ride site would "make a practical contribution, together with other transport measures, in combating congestion in and out of the city centre".

It said a current facility, at Withdean, was not sufficient because it only had space for about 200 vehicles.