Readers might like to hear about good old British Rail at its best.

On Wednesday, I had to go to London for a dental hospital appointment.

I started my journey at Portslade Station jumping on a train as it came in. I didn't have time to buy a ticket as the ticket office is on the other side of the barrier.

I got off at Brighton Station, went over to the payment box and asked to purchase a return ThamesLink ticket to Kings Cross.

I explained I needed the ticket as return to Portslade as that is where I had got on.

"That will be £10 for the penalty fare from Portslade to Brighton," said the clerk. I tried to reason with the man, stating that I was going on to Kings Cross and returning to Portslade and that I was not attempting to get on a train without paying, hence I was there at the payment box.

By this time, there was an elderly woman who had done the same thing from Hove station.

"That will be £10 for the penalty fare from Hove," the man said. The elderly woman burst into tears and wobbled on her legs. I asked how he could do this to honest people who were willing to pay their fares.

"You have broken the rule, it's £10 as a penalty fare," he said. By this time, another lady appeared. She had come from Shoreham and said the two machines there weren't working.

"It is an offence to travel on a train without a ticket - £10," he said.

There was also a young girl who was having a ticket written out for £10. She said a young boy who had travelled with her had had his last £10 taken from him and wouldn't have his fare home.

I begrudgingly paid my £10 fine and for a return ticket for Kings Cross. This was only a return to Brighton as the clerk said I had now paid my one-way fare to Brighton - the £10 fare.

I was spitting feathers by this time and in tears of frustration and anger for myself and the elderly woman, who was still in a state of shock.

I continued my journey and read the penalty form. It appeared I had, in fact, until July 2 to pay, as had all the other people.

On my return to Brighton Station, I requested to see the duty manager and told him of this disgraceful and upsetting incident.

He agreed with me that we should have been told we had time to pay and said he would look into his staff's behaviour.

I admitted I wasn't the first person to complain about it.

He said I could appeal and get my £10 back - which is little compensation for the misery we had been put through.

-Ann Ellis accommodation and welfare manager, Embassy CES Brighton and Hove