A Housing association has been told to take down its signs warning motorists they will be clamped if they park beside a block of flats it owns and administers in the centre of Devizes.

Officers from Wiltshire County Council's highways department wrote to the Shaftesbury Housing Association after it was brought to their attention that cars were being clamped and towed away near Rendells Court, on part of the highway that was the responsibility of the county.

Highways officer Tony Amor said: "It was brought to our attention that signs about clamping had been erected next to the layby opposite the block of flats.

"That area is highways land and the signs shouldn't have been there. We do not have a policy of clamping vehicles. The signs have now been removed."

This will be cold comfort to 64-year-old Stafford McLaughlin, of Pans Lane, Devizes, whose E-reg Vauxhall Cavalier was clamped on January 7.

He was told it would cost him £95 for his car to be released and by the time he had raised the cash, the car had been towed away to Security International's car pound in Barry, South Wales.

The cost then rose to £215 plus VAT and was steadily increasing due to daily storage charges of £15 plus VAT. Then Mr McLaughlin had a call from the South Wales police saying his car had been found abandoned.

Despite assurances that the car was still in the pound, Mr McLaughlin is convinced the company has sold the car to someone who abandoned it.

His solicitor asked the association to return the car or face legal proceedings. The car has not been returned.

A spokesman for the Shaftesbury Housing Association said: "Our only purpose in introducing parking restrictions at any of our properties is so that residents and their guests can park without hindrance on land which has been set aside for their use.