MOTORISTS in south Essex have welcomed moves to restrict cowboy wheel clampers.

The Government has announced plans for a law limiting the amount clampers can charge, regulating towing-away practices and setting up a fair appeals system.

The move was welcomed by the RAC and AA, which have both long campaigned against private clampers.

Murray Allsop, 42, a student nurse, of Balmoral Road, Westcliff, had to pay £540 to have his car released by a local clamping firm last month, because he did not have £125 cash available to pay an on-the-spot fine.

He said: “This is sensible, because there does need to be some sort of regulation. I was shocked to find my car clamped and the fine has been crippling for me. I would hate anyone else to have to go through what I did.”

Builder Simon William, 28, from Noak Bridge, had to pay £350 to have his car released from a pound after it was clamped and towed from his own residential parking spot.

He said: “I was very poorly treated by the people at the pound where they took my car.

“They still won’t give me an adequate explanation as to why my car was towed in the first place, so I’m glad the government are planning a crackdown. It’s long overdue.”