AN ANGRY protest is being lodged after a charity was fined by border police for missing a road toll in Austria.

Rod Jones, founder of Teesside charity Convoy Aid, had his passport and travel documents seized by a policeman after refusing to pay a fine of £85 for not buying a day-pass as he travelled through Austria on his way to Romania.

After a three-hour stand off, which ended with the policeman taking a credit card payment, Mr Jones, his wife Gabby and a volunteer, Pauline Sparks were allowed to resume their journey.

Mr Jones is lodging a protest with the British Government and warning Britons thinking of a motoring holiday in Europe to be on their guard.

"This was highway robbery and they should be warned,'' said Mr Jones.

The cheap passes can be bought at petrol stations and Mr Jones was stopped by the officer on the forecourt of the first garage across the Austrian-German border at Passau.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "If this is the local law, there is little we can do. It is like them driving on the right and we drive on the left; in Spain you must carry a reflective triangle in your boot in case of a breakdown.

"It is unfortunate that there was a charity involved, and Mr Jones met a policeman who is a stickler for the rules.''

There was no response from the Austrian embassy.