Clampers targeted a people carrier in a free car park because a disabled badge was displayed the wrong way round.

Richard Poulton, 75, and friend Val Jackson, 66, were on a day out at Brighton Marina with Mr Poulton's daughter Wendy and her children Joseph, four, and twins Jessica and Georgia, nine.

They parked in a disabled bay on the ground floor of the car park because Mrs Jackson, who has Parkinson's disease, has difficulty walking up and down stairs.

She displayed her disabled badge in the vehicle window.

When they returned two hours later they were stunned to see they had been clamped.

Mr Poulton, of Broad Rig Avenue, Hove, said: "We phoned the security company and asked what the problem was.

"They told us the badge was the wrong way round."

He told The Argus the photo, name and address of the badge holder was clearly visible and they always displayed it in this way.

He said: "They told me the wheelchair symbol and expiry date had to be facing outwards."

When an employee of Security Core Of Brighton Ltd arrived to remove the clamp, Mr Poulton explained the situation.

The clamper said he would reduce the fine from £85 to £25 because of the "special circumstances".

Mr Poulton has appealed against the fine.

He told The Argus: "If we had parked in a mother and child bay or on another level there wouldn't have been a problem.

It's ridiculous.

"I will never set foot in the marina again. It left a sour taste in our mouths after a lovely day out. In my mind we haven't done anything wrong."

Mrs Jackson, a widow, from Chalky Road, Portslade, said she has had the badge for 12 years and never encountered a problem like this before.

She said: "When you receive the documents for the badge it does say the badge has to be displayed the right way round but it doesn't tell you which way this is.

"There was no shortage of disabled bays. It was very petty."

Security Core refused to comment.