I went to collect my meal at approximately 7.45pm.

When I arrived at the train station car park all the parking spaces reserved for the restaurant were taken.

I parked my car not realising for the short time I was staying, and the reason I had parked meant, I needed a parking ticket.

When I returned to my car at approximately 8.15pm it had been clamped by Hadrian Traffic Management.

The meal was paid for at 19.53pm.

The clamping took place at 8pm – we had to wait for the meal to be prepared.

When we returned to my car the operative employed by HTM Limited saw the take-away meal and actually stated the parking spaces reserved for the restaurant were full.

He also stated as I didn’t have a valid parking ticket I would have to pay £100 plus VAT to have my car released – this was at 20.20pm.

I fail to understand why having known the details of this incident the operative employed by HTM Ltd could not have used his discretion and released my car without payment.

My wife and daughter and myself had come to Whitby for a short holiday over the weekend, but after this incident we had to leave due to financial reasons.

We love Whitby, its people and its views.

We travelled for more than two-and-a-half hours from our home in Lincolnshire.

It is unlikely we will return for some time.

AM Bassett, Horncastle Road, Louth, Lincs

l The new firm issuing tickets in the car park, Ethical Parking Services, has agreed to refund Mr Bassett £100 as a goodwill gesture.