A former policeman has vowed to take on private parking firm NCP Fred Hampton left his car in an empty space but when he got back he found a £60 ticket.

When the 82-year-old, of South Way, Seaford, complained, he was told the bay had been suspended for building work.

He said he later discovered the "no parking" sign was just a piece of cardboard which could not be read properly unless it was unfolded.

Mr Hampton has now vowed to fight NCP over the fine.

He said if he loses he will pay the whole penalty in one and two pence pieces.

Mr Hampton said: "I shall go to the bank and get the money in copper coins. I am 82. I don't have to be messing about with people like this."

Mr Hampton and his wife Gladys left their Fiat in South Street, Seaford, last Thursday morning.

They parked in a normal bay and were shocked to find a ticket on their return.

Mr Hampton said: "I could not believe it. Ten yards away from the bay there was a bit of old cardboard hanging down on the drainpipe.

"Unless you go and unfold it, you don't know what it says."

The bay had been suspended for renovations to a derelict house. The builder doing the work paid NCP £140 to keep the space clear.

When Mr Hampton rang NCP to complain, he was told the firm had been unable to put a warning sign on the building next to the space.

Mrs Hampton is disabled and the couple display a disabled badge in their car.

Mr Hampton, a policeman in London before he retired, said: "We could have parked on the yellow lines and they couldn't do anything about it.

"If you go round Seaford, you see terrible parking. My wife can't walk very far. The day we park in a normal parking space, they give us a ticket.

"You can't have a notice saying you are allowed to park and another on a pipe saying parking has been suspended, especially when you can't even read the sign."

An NCP spokeswoman said: "The penalty charge notice is valid because the car was between five and ten metres away from the sign. The signage that was there was adequate.

"If he would like to appeal, he is welcome to go through the channels. Our role is to keep the traffic moving."