Residents of a new housing estate in Watford were baffled this morning when they found their cars had been clamped, with no explanation why.

Six motorists in the Cassio Metro estate in Rickmansworth Road were then told to pay £130 to release their cars - left overnight in their parking bays – or have them towed away.

Parking Control Management, which is based in Slough, claimed that the residents were not displaying their permits and told them to pay up, even when showed the relevant paperwork.

One woman managed to nearly remove the device by reversing her car, but as she was attempting to fully remove it, the two men put a clamp on the other front wheel.

The company in charge of parking enforcement in the estate changed from UKPC to Parking Control Management yesterday, and an unmarked van had turned up at 5am to clamp cars.

Farzad Goudarz, 16, said: “Some residents didn't receive a new permit when the companies changed over, we got a letter but no new permit.

“We thought we'd just have to wait for it, but they just turned up this morning, I was about to go to school and found that the car was clamped.”

After paying the fine, his father Bijan Goudarz, said: “They said if we pay it then we'll get a code and then we might get the money back, we might not.”

Despite a number of the motorists showing the clampers their relevant parking permits, they were still forced to hand over the £130, or face a further £245 fine to tow the car, and £130 a day storage.

Diana Martin, a resident of Turin House, said: “I've had to pay enough for my parking, without these idiots like this. It's nearly a grand they have taken today, most of this is social housing, we can't afford this.”

In 2009 the Daily Mail reported how Windsor and Maidenhead Council unanimously voted to give over-zealous staff from Parking Control Management anti-social behaviour orders, banning them from the town.

Two police officers even attended the car park, where the residents were arguing with the clampers, but could offer little more than sympathy.

Mark Foster said: “I paid it because it's the work van and I can't take the risk.”

Glyn, a disabled civil engineer, was clamped while his car sat in his allocated disabled bay. He said that he only had one blue badge, and that he was using it in his other car.

He said: “The council told me not to leave the badge in the car when it's parked on private property, because it will get stolen.

“Besides, the space has to be a minimum size and can't have this kerb for it to be a disabled bay.”

Parking Control Management refused to comment.