MOTORISTS are being stung for £85 by opportunist clampers at a Hayes petrol station.

The Jet garage, in Station Approach, will lose business because of the security firm, Premier, it has hired to police its forecourt, furious victims say.

In one incident last week, a 23-year-old landscape gardener's Transit was clamped while he checked equipment in the back.

Baffled Matthew Constantinou, of Bromley Common, said: "I was driving past when I heard rattling, so I pulled into the garage to make sure everything was all right.

"I was looking round the van when this guy suddenly popped up and put a clamp on and said I would have to pay. I went mad.

"We use a lot of petrol and diesel in our work and we certainly won't get it from there ever again."

On the same evening, pensioner Pat Clark admits she left her car for five minutes while she went to the chemist but planned to fill up with petrol when she returned.

Disabled badge holder Mrs Clark, of Mounthurst Road, Hayes, also swears she and her family will boycott the garage, saying: "It looks like a scam to me. It's amazing how quickly they swoop.

"I was furious and then frightened because I didn't have any money and I didn't want my car towed away."

Staff inside the shop have put up a sign stating they are "not responsible" for clamping and assistant Siva Kumar says lots of customers have complained.

Sunil Tandon, director of Park Garages which runs the Jet stations says he would be concerned if customers were driven away and would consider renegotiating the policy with Premier.

He claimed the measures were taken in response to the September 11 attacks on America "in the interests of the security of the community".

"I think it's very sad people think of individuals at a time like this. The community is more important," he said.

Attempts to contact Premier were unsuccessful.

November 26, 2001 17:37