A magistrate is prepared to quit her job in her battle to get a clamping fine cancelled.

Carolyn Goodman, 51, from Hurstpierpoint, was furious when she was charged £110 for parking in a private space outside her elderly mother's home in Hove.

Mrs Goodman said she was prepared to stop working as a magistrate in Horsham, Haywards Heath and Crawley if she could not get the fine cancelled.

She said: "I'm prepared to go to the highest court in the land.

"I think it is outrageous. I have never had even as much as a parking ticket, never mind being clamped. I never park illegally because of the position I hold."

Mrs Goodman, who has worked for the Citizens' Advice Bureau and now runs her husband's Hove dental practice, said she had driven to her mother's flat in Ashley Court, Grand Avenue, on Tuesday.

She rushed up to the flat to get a visitor's parking permit, which would ensure she was parked legally.

She returned to find her car had been clamped in the few minutes she was away.

Mrs Goodman said: "Visitors need time to go and get the permits, otherwise you could not leave the car.

"I explained this to the clamper but he said he was not going to unclamp me. He said I was gone for more than ten minutes. I said to show me the documentation stating what time I arrived because I did not believe I was ten minutes."

The clamper said he did not have any documentation but would not release the car until the fine was paid.

Mrs Goodman eventually paid the fine after a two-hour argument but is determined to be refunded.

Graham Deacon, co-owner of Southampton-based Security International Group, said drivers were allowed ten minutes to get parking permits but Mrs Goodman exceeded the time limit by 30 minutes.

He said: "She was very rude to our officer.

"The officer put on a worksheet the time he arrived. He checked the time and waited ten minutes. He said she was gone for 40 minutes - this means getting a parking permit is not a legitimate excuse.

"She has to put her complaint in writing as she was told at the time. If she is worthy of a refund, whether a magistrate or not, she will get it. We refund £35,000 to £40,000 a year. Mistakes happen and circumstances can differ."