A LONE woman who says she suffered a frightening ordeal at the hands of unregulated car clampers in Blackpool has issued a warning to other motorists, and called for legislation to tackle the problem.

To get her car back Karen Woolton had to pay £237. And Mrs Woolton had to travel with a man who had no identification to an empty lot off Clifton Drive, Blackpool, where she had to confront another man before getting her vehicle back.

"I was not frightened driving there in the car but when I got to the compound my heart was in my mouth," said Mrs Woolton, 35, a sales manager.

"I should never have got in the car but I was thinking about getting my car back.

"That night I just couldn't sleep. I can't stop thinking about it."

Baron Security, the firm involved, say their charges are reasonable and defended their methods but Mrs Woolton said: "It's time there was some control of clamping so reasonable charges are imposed. Certainly I would warn people to be very careful where they park."

Mrs Woolton left her car off Preston New Road on a private road leading to Windmill Caravan Park. She admitted she knew it was a private road but claims there were no clamping signs when she arrived for a 15-minute stop.

When she returned her vehicle had gone and there was a Baron Security sign with a phone number on a post nearby. Calling the number, she was told she had to pay in cash and would be collected but only the driver could be carried.

She says she was met by the Baron driver who had no identification..

When she got to her car it was on empty land with no office. She had to argue to have the clamp removed before being given a receipt without any printed heading. The fee was made up of £189 for the clamp and tow and £48 for time in the compound.

Baron proprietor Mr Steve West maintained that there had been four clear signs, each 24 by 18 inches saying that vehicles would be towed away immediately.

"£237 is very reasonable. She has got 24 hours to pick her car up and we are one of the cheapest clamping companies in Blackpool."

"I don't care whether it's reasonable or not. I know it's reasonable. I am the cheapest in Blackpool."

He said he accepted only cash because of credit card fraud.

He said they had no office or marked vehicles because of attacks from disgruntled motorists.

"No car clamping firm in the town has an office at the compound," said Mr West.

"You get threatening gangster behaviour, following you from the office, threatening your family. You would be surprised what goes on."

He added: "I comply with every law, every stipulation by Blackpool police and also by trading standards. I have done everything I am required to.

"There is no law so I am not outside anything but I try to be fair. I know it doesn't sound like it's fair but life isn't fair."

A spokeswoman for the Trading Standards Authority said that there was no legislation to cover vehicle clampers.

"We would encourage anyone who is unhappy to complain to their MP so that legislation is hurried up."

Mr Bill Taylor of National Clamps said that they and other companies were working with the Home Office on legislation which he hoped would be in place by next year.

"Every clamper is going to have a licence, marked vehicles and a reasonable release fee."

But he said that some operators would escape the net because they were not clamping but simply towing vehicles away.