A PUB owner has angered shoppers in Horwich by sectioning off a piece of land and threatening to clamp cars. The land in Harrison Street, opposite Samuel's pub, had been used as a car park by shoppers for many years. Now they have been told not to park or they could be clamped or even towed away.

But owner Darren Miller says the land is private and he has every right to keep shoppers out to ensure his customers can park their cars.

One irate shopper said he tried to park but was told there was a sign threatening to clamp him.

The man, who lives in Bottom O' Th' Moor, said: "For a long time this piece of spare ground has been used by people to park cars.

"It's the first place in the Horwich area as far as I know which has clamping."

Mr Miller, who has recently bought the land, said it was not designated a car park and he may want to use the land for a different purpose in future.

He allowed some shop keepers and a few nearby residents to use the land but that it was principally for his customers.

He said: "There are some people not pleased about it. I have had a lot of aggravation over it."

But he said he had been courteous to people and had asked them to move rather than use the power to clamp.

He has now put up posts around the land to keep cars off.

He said: "I don't want it to be a car park. Houses used to be on it which could be rebuilt.

"It's prime land in Horwich and these are the sort of things you have to do to protect your property."

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