A WHITEFIELD shopowner believes a parking clampdown has scared off some of his customers.

When clampers suddenly moved into a car park at the rear of the Brands Centre last month, even though it had closed down, several motorists were landed with £85 fines.

But Mr Rocco Fulchini, part owner of the Roma cafe and delicatessen on Bury New Road, believes some people feared being clamped if they parked on the front car park off Elm Street.

He said: "I want to reassure customers that they can leave their cars on the front car park.

"I have not been as busy over the last two weeks, and I had put it down to the World Cup.

"But having spoken to several people, they were under the impression the clampers were operating on the front car park.

"You could understand them not popping in for a £1 coffee if they though it could cost them £85 to park," he added.

The Bury Times reported that MGB Clamping Company has now withdrawn from the Brands Centre land, which is now back in the ownership of Safeway who previously occupied the site.