A MAN has spent nearly three hours sitting in a car suspended from a crane in a desperate attempt to stop it being towed away.

He has vowed to stay in the car until it is released, or he is removed by police.

Marcus Anthony, 32, did not even have time to get dressed this morning before jumping in his car when he saw clamper were trying to remove it from his designated residents' parking bay outside his house.

He is one of dozens of residents of Gareth Drive, Edmonton, who woke up to find their cars clamped and fines of £130 on their windscreens, after a new company was employed to police the parking on their private estate.

The company, Parking Control Management UK said they sent letters and new permits to all residents but many say they did not receive these.

If the fines were not paid they rocketed to £300.

“It's daylight robbery, they've made a killing today,” he said. “I agreed to pay the £130 and went upstairs to get my credit card.

“Then I heard people screaming and shouting “your car, your car, they're going to tow it away.” when I came down they were lifting it up and said I had to pay £300 so I jumped in. I've got a young son to look after. £300 is two weeks wages for me.”

Mr Anthony, a DJ and fitness instructor, said he came back from holiday in the early hours of the morning. He did get a new permit in the post but only noticed it after his car had been clamped.

Other residents said they did not get a new permit at all.

A nurse, who only gave her name as Tess, returned from a 12-hour night shift at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead to face a £300 fine.

“I'm shattered, I haven't slept and then I come home to this,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I didn't get any new permit and I didn't know I needed one. Where am I going to get the money? I don't have £300. I'm so upset, they didn't even give us a chance.”

Other residents were forced to take time off work, borrow money or return from their workplaces because the clampers would not allow them to pay the fine over the phone.