SPANISH police officers seized a British couple's hire car when they did not have enough cash to pay an on-the-spot fine, leaving them stranded in a lay-by.

Susan and Chris Troughton watched helplessly as their silver Citroen was towed to an impound 30 miles away.

It took a train journey and two taxi rides to recover it, seven hours later, at a cost of 180 Euros (£124).

Police had demanded an on-the-spot 98 Euros fine for speeding, but the hapless holidaymakers had only 50 Euros in cash, plus their credit cards - which were refused.

The Troughtons, from Lythe, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, were dismayed when police insisted the fine could only be paid in cash and promptly called for a tow truck.

Mrs Troughton, 56, a medical secretary, said the incident ruined the recent holiday.

She said: "We could not believe that they towed our car away.

"We were later told by English ex-pats that it was becoming a regular occurrence."

Her husband, 55, a joiner and retained firefighter, said: "The attitude of the Spanish police officers was unbelievable, they were so aggressive.

"We accepted their word that we had been speeding, but to tow away our car and leave us at the side of the road was just incredible."

There was a small cafe nearby, and Mr Troughton tried, without success, to see if they had a cash machine. A friendly customer attempted in vain to negotiate with officers.

The couple say they also tried to borrow money from another English couple that had been pulled up at the same time, but were warned off by police.

They caught a train into Alicante, where it took two taxi trips to find the fines office and then the car compound, which was closed for a three hour siesta.

Finally, after paying the 98 Euros speeding ticket, 50 Euros to recover the car and 30 Euros for taxis, they were reunited with their car.

Mrs Troughton said: "We were on a day trip to Benidorm, but we never made it.

"We can't prove that the police were targeting rental cars, but some people were removing the hire firm sticker from the back window and replacing it when they returned the vehicle."