MORE than 100 angry clubbers surrounded clampers as they tried to impound their cars.

Around 120 people were enjoying a dance session at the popular Mo’club in Southampton when the clamping firm struck, prompting the crowd to spill out and confront clamping staff.

Revellers sat on the bonnets of vehicles and there were angry scenes as around nine cars were clamped along West Quay Road.

Clubbers formed a human barrier to surround the clampers while others tried to reason with them.

They were refusing to move until the clamps were released, prompting police to be called to prevent the trouble escalating.

Mo’Club owner Phil Rees said: “It was shocking, we saw what was going on and so I made an announcement and everyone just came out and surrounded them. There must have been 120 people in the club at the time.”

Phil Collins, 66 from Southampton, said: “We got out there, worried it might be our car, and I saw he was just about to clamp mine.

“When he saw how many of us were there he didn’t carry on. At times it was getting quite fractious but they just wouldn’t listen to reason.”

Mr Rees told the Daily Echo how, for the past four years since the club opened, they had a verbal agreement with surrounding business to use their parking spaces in the evening. However, following a neighbouring business going into administration clampers had moved in, clamping two dance class teachers last week.

Following that, clampers targeted cars parked on another nearby premises at Fabric Warehouse.

Southern Parking Management do have a contract with the firm nationally but the local manager had agreed not to enforce it in the evenings without first being contacted. Despite that understanding, and no call apparently being made, Southern Parking staff began applying the clamps on Tuesday night.

In the end Mr Rees agreed to pay the release fees for the cars. Over the past week the company has paid out over £1,340 in fines.

Mr Rees said: “What the clampers have done is unethical and underhand. They were running up the road with clamps in their hands to put on vehicles as quickly as possible.”

Southern Parking Management refused to comment.

Mr Rees added that parking was still available at some surrounding businesses and to check their website for details.