Poorly-planned residential parking is leading to neighbourhood disputes and blocked driveways, according to a report.

Some garages are not big enough to house cars, research by the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) and the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) found.

Emergency services and delivery vehicles sometimes cannot get through due to bad parking, the study added.

The report said local authorities should set parking standards with regard to local circumstances and without trying to control car ownership.

The report said: "Parking problems manifest themselves in pavement parking, blocked driveways, difficult access for delivery vehicles and refuse collectors, damage to verges, trees and footpaths, and cluttered, unsightly streets.

"They cause tension between neighbours that has been known to escalate into violence, and reduce the likelihood of children using the street for play.

"Neighbourhoods that are generally well-designed often have their appearance ruined by poor planning in parking for residents and their visitors."