A DRIVER who staged an eight-hour sit-in protest after being clamped is taking his fight to court.

Nicholas Taylor insists he was unfairly clamped and fined £465 by firm Citywatch after he parked in the forcourt of the BP garage in Forest Road, Walthamstow, while he bought a sandwich earlier this year.

The father-of-two, of Bedford Road, Walthamstow, was so angry he refused to leave his car until the clamp was released, but Citywatch staff threatened to increase the fine by £160 for every hour that passed.

He was supported by the station manager and cheered by passing motorists for taking a stand against the unpopular firm.

Mr Taylor’s wife eventually persuaded him to end the protest and he reluctantly paid the fine and the clamp was removed.

But the architectural designer has not given up and will attempt to force the company to give him back the cash in the small claims court.

The Guardian was inundated with complaints about Citywatch, with drivers saying they were being unfairly targeted by the firm after parking in service station forcourts across Waltham Forest.

Many station managers cancelled contracts with the firm after the public outcry.

Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard raised the issue of with ministers and introduced a motion in Parliament calling for tighter controls on clamping firms.

He said: “During a recent Home Office consultation it was suggested there shold be tighter regulation of these companies.

“They are a law unto themselves because there is noe regulation on what they can charge.

If you get a ticket on a public road there is an appeal process, whereas with these people, there’s nothing.

Mr Taylor’s cclaim is due to be heard in September.