Driver’s sit-in protest at petrol station clamping

A man staged an eight-hour sit-in protest in freezing conditions after his car was clamped at a filling station in Walthamstow.

Nicholas Taylor, 56, had his car clamped by parking firm Citywatch in the BP petrol station in Forest Road, while he bought a sandwich from the shop.

The father-of-two, from Walthamstow, had intended to weather the snow and remain in the car overnight in protest against the £465 clamp release fee.

But after being told by Citywatch that he would be charged £160 an hour for sitting there, he thought twice. After persuasion from his wife, 33-year-old Daniela Raimondi, he decided to pay the fee and left at 11pm on Tuesday.

Mr Taylor said: "Citywatch climbed down from the extra £160 an hour they had threatened to charge me. In the end my wife prevailed, so we paid the £465 and left. But this is not the end."

Mr Taylor said he plans to appeal against the fine.

During the protest, his 19-year-old student son Patrick brought him food.

Manager of the petrol station, Kanbasamy Normalan, urges customers not to park in the forecourt unless they are buying petrol until the clamping contract ceases on 15 February.