A WOMAN motorist on her first visit to Bolton had her car clamped after driving into a car park - to turn round!

Mrs Madge Mitchell who lives in Halifax, says she was about to drive out of the car park on Higher Bridge Street next to the Stanley Casino when a van drove across her path and blocked her exit.

Her car was then clamped and she was told she must pay £50 to have it released.

She says she was issued with a notice by the firm UK Clamps and told if she didn't pay up, the car would be towed away and she would be faced with an additional bill of £110.

Mrs Mitchell said: "I did explain that I had had no intention of parking and was not carrying £50 and there was no hope of getting it because I am a single parent. But I was shown no compassion.

"I am not normally a weak lady but I was so upset, I was reduced to tears. I was frightened at the thought of being left stranded in a strange town and was determined not to leave the car because I was afraid it would be towed away. I was also worried about my 14-year-old daughter who was due in from school."

Eventually Mrs Mitchell's son-in-law travelled from his home in Halifax to pay the charge.

" My son-in-law is a policeman and had he been at work I would have been unable to contact him and don't know what I would have done. There was no-one else I could have called," she added.

Mrs Mitchell who said it was her first and last visit to the town, hit out at the clamping firm.

"It is an absolutely diabolical way to conduct a business.

"I sat in that car park for three hours and saw other people being clamped. If their sole intention is to stop people parking they should put up bollards but it is nothing more than a money-making racket."

There was no-one available to comment for UK Clamps.

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