CLAMPING firms' employees may often adopt a surly and abusive tone when dealing with members of the public whose vehicles have been towed away, yet they are usually extremely careful to remain within the law. The latest Worcester motorists to have their cars clamped will probably derive little satisfaction from this.

It is difficult to say when clamping first entered the lives of Britain's motorists, but it is now as much a feature as speed cameras and sleeping policemen. However, while deliberately parking in a restricted area is one thing, leaving a vehicle on a designated space outside one's house is most certainly another. Regardless of whether a permit sticker was displayed or not, it is impossible to escape the conclusion that this grubby little episode has taken clamping a major step too far.

Clamping firms don't appear to place customer care at the top of their priorities. They do, however, charge highly for their "services". But what is their function other than raising easy money - and do Trading Standards have a view on this?

Then there is the absence of any right of appeal. The residents concerned were obviously confused about their obligations and their landlords seem to have little sympathy. Tough luck, then.

This newspaper takes issue with the morality of a system that allows a group of individuals to take a person's property and then demands a week's wages for its return. This is nothing short of legalised extortion and the Worcester News calls for the the law to be changed so that this unsavoury practice is consigned to the breaker's yard where it belongs.