THIS is the moment DVLA workers were caught ignoring no-entry signs to reverse up a one-way street — seconds before clamping a car for not having a tax disc.

The white van was captured on CCTV as it reversed the wrong way up a one-way system before clamping a car parked on private land.

A worker can be seen checking vehicles in the privately owned British Legion car park in Honiton and then clamping a Peugeot 106.

Vince Palmer, 55, the club's steward had bought the car for his son just hours before it was clamped for having not displaying a tax disc — despite it not being driven or parked on a public road.

The authority has now apologised for the behaviour of its operatives and said disciplinary action will be taken.

But Mr Palmer was astonished that DVLA workers would go to such extremes.

He said: "The car was delivered from a garage on Wednesday, July 21, and by 10.44am the following day the DVLA had clamped the vehicle.

"The CCTV shows a man checking every car in the private car park and then a white van reversing up the one-way street towards the British Legion before my son's car was clamped.

"This is absolutely ludicrous."

His son Glenn, a 22-year-old chef, was working when the car was delivered and had the tax disc by the next morning.

But he was hit with a £100 fine to have the clamp taken off.

"I think it's disgusting," said Vince.

"How do you expect youngsters to uphold the law when they are not given a chance?

"If they are going to clamp a car, fine, but don't do it and then reverse up a one-way street.

"It's one rule for them and another for us."

DVLA works in partnership with NSL Limited, who operate the wheel-clamping scheme.

A DVLA spokesman said it has been a legal requirement since 2008 for the keeper of a vehicle to tax their car at all times or declare it off the road via a SORN declaration — even if it is kept in an off-road location.

He said: "NSL unreservedly apologises for our driver's failure to adhere to road traffic regulations and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken."

An investigation has been launched and a disciplinary hearing is pending.