Car clampers have been branded a disgrace after taking Marks and Spencer vouchers from two pensioners as payment to release their car.

Eighty-year-old Winifred O'Hara and her friend Pauline Brotherton, 61, handed over the two £10 vouchers as part payment of the £35 fine.

The pair, pictured, said it was the only way they could secure the release of Mrs O'Hara's Ford Ka from Haworth's Changegate car park.

"I actually offered them as a joke because we didn't have enough money between us," said Mrs Brotherton of Wibsey. But without any hesitation the man said yes and took them. I was amazed - I even laughed - but it was a disgraceful thing to do.

"I said 'I'm sure God will forgive you because it's hard for us to do so'."

Mrs Brotherton and Mrs O'Hara said they returned to the Carstoppers car park in Haworth, on Monday, just three minutes later than the 16.34pm they were due back.

But when the attendant made out the fixed penalty ticket he put a time of 16.49, making them 15 minutes late.

Mrs O'Hara, a widow, of Shipley said: "That was very unfair. I think he deliberately dilly-dallied to let the time elapse before he made it out so it would show we were 15 minutes late."

She said she had urged the attendant not to clamp them because they were only two or three minutes late, and they had a witness to support them.

"The man just said 'You are over the limit and you can't take the car without paying the money.' It was £35.

"I had just £10 and some change and Pauline said she had the two vouchers. I managed to find £5 in loose change, which he accepted.

"He gave use a receipt for the £15 in cash and two M&S vouchers," she added.

Carstoppers boss Ted Evans confirmed that the vouchers had been taken instead of money.

"He added that the clamp was locked at 16.49pm, 15 minutes over the time they were due back.

The Government introduced a Private Security Industry Act in May 2001, which included the setting up of a Security Industry Authority.

The Home Office expects the authority to be up and running in 2003.