In an illustrious career as a traffic warden and police officer, errant drivers had something to fear from Margaret Nikolli.

But the the Denver Boot was well and truly on the other foot when the 35-year-old got towed away for having no tax disc.

Mrs Nikolli, of Hythe Road, Worthing, had her car released to her yesterday after paying £205 in fines and fees as well as £97 for six months worth of tax.

Mrs Nikolli, who was an officer with Sussex Police until two years ago, said she had recently bought the car and was awaiting paperwork to be posted to her so she could buy a new tax disc.

She was clamped on Wednesday last week and towed the following day from Viaduct Road, Brighton, by NCP, which is contracted by the DVLA in a clampdown on road tax evasion.

The release fee for a clamped vehicle with no road tax is £80. If that is not paid within 24 hours the vehicle is towed and the release fee rises to £160. For every day the car is stored, there is a £15 a day charge.

Mrs Nikolli's husband discovered the car had been clamped and telephoned his wife who then contacted NCP.

She said: "We couldn't pay that amount of money there and then. I managed to borrow some money the following day and got some tax. I phoned them up and said that but they told me my car was being towed.

"I feel really gutted about it.

"I'm in a mountain of debt again and it's not helping us."

James Pritchard, communications manager of NCP, said: "If your vehicle is not taxed it should not be on the road. If the lady involved used to be traffic warden and police officer, then she should really know better.

"If she has a genuine problem about our staff and procedures, we are more than happy to hear from her about that."