SHOPPERS were left furious when clampers used bully boy tactics to stop them parking in a Melksham car park.

The clampers from Rowancroft Immobilisers arrived on Friday to ensure people not calling at Aqua Leisure and Melksham Electrical Company, in Market Place, did not use the shops' private car park.

Despite being asked by the shopkeepers to only work during business hours they continued to clamp drivers until midnight, sparking dozens of complaints about their rude behaviour.

Brenda Cottrell, of Sandridge Road, said her daughter was caught on Friday at 8.30pm when she was picking up a takeaway.

She said: "The clampers shouldn't even have been there at that time of night but she was told if she didn't pay £95 on the spot the car would be towed away."

Stephen Lowton, 40, of Bowerhill, was clamped when he parked for five minutes on Saturday to use the Blockbuster video store. He said: "I've been parking there for 20 years with no problems. I was confronted by a big man who said if you leave it there I'll tow it away'. They were towing them round the back and using that as a pound but told me the pound was in Swindon.

"A man parked next to me was also clamped even though he was using one of the shops he was meant to be in. "According to the Security Industry Authority they should have had visible identification badges but not one of them did."

Steve Savage, a partner in Melksham Electrical Company, said there had been a problem with people using the 12-space car park rather than using King Street, which has one hour's free parking. He said: "We were approached by the clamping company which offered to sort the situation, but they were over-zealous and were picking on people. It turned into our worst nightmare.

"We have asked them to leave. All we wanted to do was remind people, in a softly, softly way, that it is a private car park. Mr Savage said he had apologised to customers who had been upset by the clampers. He added attempts to contact Rowancroft had been unsuccessful.

At the time of going to press the Wiltshire Times was unable to contact Rowancroft.