SIR - The fate of local residents having to pay through the nose and almost grovel to get their car returned is a shameful episode reflected across the country. The effective hijacking of personal property and demanding a substantial ransom is well overdue for fresh and meaningful legislation. It might be legal, but it is surely on the borderline of what is acceptable. As for the attitude of Broadheath Construction calling the residents lazy for allegedly failing to display permits they are cynical and disrespectful to the hand that feeds, namely the people that pay to live there. It is the free market gone mad and time the Government acted to regulate this more effectively

ANDREW BROWN,

Worcester