Thanks for your reply. Just spoke to my Dad and apparently the company is Capital Coast Security and he actually was in a car park that had signs up saying that you would be clamped.

Hi there, can anyone give any advice. I am trying to help my 75 year old father who parked on a public road and went into a shop to get change to pay for the parking and while he was in there (a couple of mins), a clamping van (who he believes was waiting for just such an event) clamped him and charged him £120 to release the car. The lady from the shop also came out to tell the clamper that he only left the car to get change to pay for the parking and his response was that he left the car, so tough. I am so gutted for him, they are struggling to survive on their meagre pensions as it is without £120 charge that they hadn't budgeted for! Is there anyone to complain to, is it legal to clamp when he was gone for such a short time. Thanks for any advice