Visitor vows never no return to village after clamper ruins day

Denville Longhurst had travelled to Haworth, in West Yorkshire, with his wife and an Italian friend.

But the visit ended up costing him 75 to unclamp his car after using a ticket given to him by a driver leaving the car park as he entered.

And what made the penalty even worse was the fact he had been about to give up on his efforts to park there and drive on when he was guided into a space by a man he believes worked for the firm who clamped him.

Mr Longhurst, 63, said he accepts the ticket was non transferable, but added: "I am absolutely certain he saw me accept the ticket."

He said he was given a ticket by a woman who said there was lots of time left on it.

"It is only 60p or 80p a ticket but you do not spit someone in the face when they give you a ticket," he said. "We actually decided against parking there because I was ever so slightly suspicious but I thought what could go wrong? It was a valid ticket.

"As soon as I started to turn around to go out a guy came running across and said 'there's a space over there' and he walked me in to help me get into the space."

Despite placing the ticket "prominently on view" and returning with time to spare, the car was clamped by Car Stoppers. Mr Longhurst claimed one of the men who told him he was illegally parked had earlier ushered him into the space.

Mr Longhurst, a retired air traffic controller, added: "It clearly ruined my day, my wife's day and my guest's day. Never ever will I go to Haworth again unless I am passing through."

No-one from Car Stoppers was available for comment.