A BOLTON charity worker has received a £50 refund and an apology from a national car clamping company.

Debra Higson, who works for the National Children's Home family centre in Breightmet, had to borrow charity money to pay a wheel clamper to release her car.

Debra, whose story was featured in Saturday's BEN, had just stopped on the car park behind Stanley Casino on Higher Bridge Street to ask for directions when the clamper from UK Clamps struck.

The mum-of-four pleaded with the man to free her car, but he demanded an immediate £50 in cash - even after she had showed him her NCH pass and explained she was on charity business.

As Debra, of Halliwell, did not have that amount of cash on her she had to borrow it from the charity.

And although Debra is pleased to get a refund she is still concerned that other drivers may be caught by the clampers.

She said: "I just want other drivers to steer clear of that car park.

"Even though I have now been promised a refund I don't want other drivers to fall into the trap."

A spokesman for the company apologised to Debra for the incident.

He explained: "Our employees are told so many excuses that we have to verify stories.

"That is why we have an appeal procedure. We look at cases and it is not unusual for us to give refunds."

The spokesman added that for the past four months UK Clamps had been under new ownership.

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