A FIRM that clamped a Hampshire midwife rushing to give pain relief to a woman in labour has struck again - after penalising a social worker who briefly left his car to meet a blind colleague.

Graham Froom was nabbed just minutes after parking in Town Quay, Southampton, near to the Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry terminal.

Unable to find a place at the drop off point he parked his Ford Fiesta in a recess next to some rubbish bins.

The father-of-two left a card saying 'social worker' in the front windscreen but when he returned a couple of minutes later at 12.30pm he had been clamped.

Earlier this week, the Daily Echo revealed midwife Clare Evans was also clamped by Security International Group nearby. She had left her car on a private road for seven minutes after dashing to a woman who had gone into labour at her home in Platform Road near the docks.

Bosses insist there are several clear warning signs in place.

But Mr Froom said: "I am very angry. I couldn't find anywhere to park and I was very concerned about meeting my visually impaired colleague from the ferry.

"As it turned out, he was unable to make the journey. I got my parking ticket at 12.25pm just after I parked up.

"As soon as I realised my colleague wasn't on the ferry I returned to my car."

Mr Froom, 40, had to call his wife at the family's Locks Heath home because he did not have the £95 release fee needed on him.

"I do think the car clampers were being over zealous and that a little common sense should prevail."

Clive Deacon, managing director Security International Group, said: "The length of time a car is parked illegally is irrelevant. We have 36 warning signs in the area and also notices directing motorists to a nearby pay and display car park."

He also said he had not received any complaints from local businesses in Town Quay.

However, Ian Parker, owner of the Monsieur Hulot caf by the ferry terminal, said he had lost a lot of business in the last few months.

"A lot of people like to pop in here for a cup of tea when they're waiting for the ferry and then return to their cars to find they have been clamped. In the last six months it has got much worse."