PEOPLE visiting Hythe Marina - many to see Queen Mary 2 before her spectacular departure - have had a nasty surprise when they returned to their cars.

One was retired traffic warden Tony Saunders, 63, who is no stranger to traffic regulations but was caught unawares when he found a clamp on his Red Peugeot 405.

The stunned grandfather-of-two, who is disabled and needs crutches to walk because of severe arthritis in both knees, had gone with his wife Mary, 56, to see the world's largest ocean liner from across Southampton water in Hythe Marina.

But when they returned to the car after an hour they found it clamped with a sign demanding £75 cash - even though he had left his disabled badge on the dashboard.

The retired ambassador car park attendant from Salisbury said: "It's a lovely place to go but I wonder how many people realise that this new procedure is happening in Hythe Marina.

"It's an extortionate fee and it's the fact that you have to pay the £75 in cash that bothers me. These clamping companies should have someone you can call and pay a fine over the phone."

Another victim, who did not want to be named, was a woman in her 80s from Ashurst, who has a hip operation and walks with the aid of a stick. She was helped by people who called the clamping company on a mobile phone and stayed with her during the negotiations.

Her daughter said: "The impasse could only be overcome by my mother getting into the car of this complete stranger and travelling with him to the nearest branch of her bank, so she could withdraw the cash without which her car would have remained impounded. A payment she was obliged to make without receiving any form of receipt."

Several people had already been clamped and Matrix Crowd Management employee Malik Khalid, who issued the clamping fee, said: "The gentleman thought he would be alright with a disabled badge on the dashboard. We have very big yellow signs which are quite clearly telling people about the clamping."

Clamping started last Monday and Hythe Marina Village site manager Dave Wilson said the decision to introduce a 'pay and display' scheme backed up by clamping was sparked by New Forest District Council's introduction of charges.