A DISABLED driver who had to pay a £100 release fee to a car clamper has warned other people to steer clear of a town centre car park.

Angry Richard Dabbs, aged 63, from Horwich, was caught out when he left his car in a parking bay next to the council pay and display car park in Back Cheapside.

He said: "I am disabled and thought I was in the council pay and display area. I couldn't believe it when I got back to my car with my wife and saw the wheel clamp on it.

"We had only been there about 40 minutes. We had to pay up to get our car back but I think £100 was daylight robbery."

He added: "I hadn't seen any signs at all, although we did have a small A4 sized one pointed out towards after we had been clamped."

When a BEN reporter visited the land there was a sign attached to a lamppost stating: "Warning. Patrons Only. Clamping in Operation, £100 release fee."

A man who refused to be named, said he was operating the clamping operation on behalf of the private owner of the land.

He said: "I'm just doing this as a temporary arrangement. The owner is in talks and planning to sell the land to a private car parking firm.

"He has given me instructions that only three cars are allowed on here in the meantime -- his, his wife's and his daughter's."

He rejected accusations from Mr Dabbs and the owners of a car clamped on Friday afternoon that the clamping was a scheme to catch people out and make money quickly.

The clamping man said the car parking bays had been leased to Bolton Health Studio but that arrangement ended a few months ago.

He added: "The sign has been up two weeks, in that time about eight cars have been clamped. It would suit me if no one parks on here until the owner sells it."