A MAN found himself locked in a showdown with clamping firm City Watch after being caught parking illegally in Chingford.

Riccardo Morgan, 24, a financial advisor of Peel Close, Chingford, stopped to pick someone up on private property in Old Church Road when the clampers descended.

He said: "They surrounded the car and put a clamp on it, then put a tow truck sling around it.

"I got out to speak to them but the guy I was with told me to get back in the car as they can't lift it with me in it."

Mr Morgan was in his car from 11.30am and the clampers called the police to try and get him to leave the vehicle.

"The police told me to stay in the car - it's a civil matter," Mr Morgan said.

"I've been advised to cut the bolts myself because it's not illegal as long as the chains are replaced and nothing's damaged.

"Because it's private property and not council owned, the police told me to do what I want.

"They tried to lift my car off the ground while I was still in it - if the police hadn't been there to intervene, they would have carried on."

All four of his wheels have been clamped and he has been told he must pay £465 for the first clamp, a further £465 for the other three and £80 for every half hour City Watch have been there.

A crowd gathered around the car and passers by described how the City Watch vehicle had blocked Mr Morgan's car into an alleyway, obstructing the pavement.

Mr Morgan finally decided to pay an initial fee of £465 shortly after 3pm and has been told he will be invoiced for the rest but plans to appeal the fine.

His car is also now on a "wanted list", meaning clampers will be on the look out for it and will tow it away immediately if he fails to pay up.

But Citywatch have dismissed all of Mr Morgan's claims as "total rubbish" and denied clamping his car while he was still in it.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: "We would never clamp or try to tow somebody while they were still in the vehicle."