York pensioner Herbert Stratton looked as if he represented the very essence of law enforcement when he strolled into town on Saturday in cowboy hat, jeans, and US Marshall's badge.

But he claims a plain clothes policeman thought otherwise, suspecting the colourful 74-year-old was about to confront Chancellor Gordon Brown during a demonstration against Ecofin.

Now Mr Stratton, who says he was detained "to prevent a breach of the peace", and thrown into a cell, is demanding an apology from the North Yorkshire Police for what he claims was wrongful arrest.

The alleged ordeal happened as anti EU protesters raised their voices in disapproval at Mr Brown and fellow European finance ministers leaving the Mansion House to resume their conference in the Assembly Rooms.

Mr Stratton, of Tennent Road, Acomb, insists he was an innocent bystander who merely spoke out of turn because of frustration at having his weekend pint delayed at the Three Cranes pub by the 350 demonstrators and a tight security cordon.

He said: "When I reached St Helen's Square and realised I couldn't get through I turned to chap next to me and sounded off about Europe.

"I suggested we'd let down friends like Australia and New Zealand in favour of the Common Market. I said, jokingly, that I wouldn't mind climbing over the barrier and having a word with Gordon Brown. Then someone in the crowd shouted 'here he is' and at that moment I felt a blow in the stomach, and the man I had been talking to said ' I am arresting you to prevent a breach of the peace.' I couldn't believe it. I still can't."

Mr Stratton told how he was put into a police van and whisked off to Fulford Road police headquarters and locked in a cell. Two hours later, he said, they released him without charge.

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