Local MP Nick Ainger has branded unwarranted car clamping at St Oswald's Surgery car park, Pembroke, as "a new form of highway robbery".

Earlier this year, the Western Telegraph reported a number of complaints from patients who felt that strong-arm tactics were being used by a private clamping company hired to enforce parking restrictions at the surgery.

Hundleton pensioner Jean Connolly described how workers clamped her car while her nine-year-old granddaughter Emily cried inside. Mrs Connolly had popped into the surgery's adjacent pharmacy to pick up a prescription.

Betty Butler, 84, of Jameston, had also been clamped while she sat in her car waiting for her son to collect medication.

Having spoken to a number of his constituents about the issue, Mr Ainger believes that "rogue clampers" are lying in wait to clamp visitors to the car park.

"This is clearly an attempt to make money, rather than stopping unauthorised parking," he said.

One constituent contacted the MP after her car had been clamped, with her 90-year-old disabled husband inside. "She had seen her doctor at St Oswald's the day before, but when she came out the chemist was closed, so she had to return the next day to collect her prescription." he said.

"During those few minutes, her car was clamped without warning and she had to pay £125 to get it released."

Mr Ainger added that he was recently contacted by a disabled young mother, who had her car clamped in the same car park under similar circumstances, resulting in more extortionate charges without any warning.

“I am sure these cases are only the tip of the iceberg," he said.

"I have raised this with the Argyle Medical Group and urgent action is needed to stop this serious abuse of their patients.”

The MP's comments come as the AA calls for a clamp down on the practice of clamping cars on private land.

The motoring group said the prevalence of "bad and immoral practices" among private parking firms is "shocking and unacceptable".

"The public have absolutely no protection if a private parking firm acts unfairly," said AA's head of public affairs, Paul Walters.