WHEEL-clampers who targeted a charity minibus have donated £200 to the fundraisers.

Disabled people carrying out a charity collection for the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Hampshire were stunned to find their specially-adapted minibus had been clamped while the driver dropped off volunteers at Spa Road, in Southampton city centre.

They had raised £500 for the charity on the day, but had to pay £95 to free the vehicle.

Now clamping boss Clive Deacon has proved with his generous donation that clampers do have a heart - but he still says the driver was at fault.

In a letter to the Southampton Multiple Sclerosis Society branch, Mr Deacon ticked off the driver for parking in a private car park and for not sticking to the code of the Blue Badge scheme for disabled people's parking.

But he said that he hoped the donation would "go some way to redeeming the situation as far as the wheel clamp is concerned".

Mr Deacon, managing director of the Security International Group, added: "I am concerned that this matter may have caused distress to any of your members which would be the last thing we would ever wish to do."

Charity chairman Don Underhill was thrilled with the cash - and was happy to forgive and forget the clamping incident.

"We're absolutely delighted that it worked out well. It just shows that a bit of diplomacy can help," he said.

"I'm not too fussed about what he said about the driver. If you look at it technically, we were probably in the wrong. I don't really want to make an issue of it - at least we've got this donation."

Mr Underhill even had a little sympathy for the city's unloved wheel clampers.

"They have a dustman's job to do - it's dirty but it keeps the streets clean," he added.

He said the money would go towards funding a special multiple sclerosis-trained nurse for the area.