A disabled man locked himself in his car in a police vehicle compound in protest at having to pay £105 to get it back.

Steven Woolley, 52, sat in his silver Ford Sierra for almost two hours in the pound in Westergate Road, Brighton.

He refused to budge until the recovery fee on his vehicle, which was stolen two days earlier, was either waived by Sussex Police or paid by his insurance company.

The police refused to lift the fee and his insurers Churchill told Mr Woolley he would lose his no claims bonuses if they paid it.

After 30 minutes, two officers were called to the scene closely followed by an inspector to try to talk him out of his sit-in, but Mr Woolley would not budge.

He said: "There was no way I was going to get out until I got my car back. I had planned to drive off but they had parked a car behind me to block my way. It was a bit hairy and I kept having to use my angina spray to keep the panic at bay."

Two hours later, after the police convinced the insurers to stump up the fee, Mr Woolley drove home.

He said: "I felt great driving it out but the fight isn't over yet. I have been assured the insurers will pay the money without me being penalised but we will wait and see."

Mr Woolley, who suffers from arthritis and walks with a stick, had to hand over the cash before he could leave. He is now waiting for a cheque from Churchill.

His car was stolen from a disabled parking bay outside his home in Burlington Street, Kemp Town, Brighton, on Tuesday.

Mr Woolley, who had a heart attack in October last year and relies on his car because he cannot walk far, said after he reported the theft to police a friend spotted the car in Moulsecoomb.

He said: "I called the police and said I was going to pick it up but they said they needed it for forensic tests. Then they said I had to pay to get it back.

"The police policy is a disgrace. People lose their property and then lose out again to get it back."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the recovery fee was a universal policy. He said: "The policy was brought in when forensic examination became possible, making it easier to find evidence.

"We will not let anyone off."