FOR many motorists, these picture of a prolific wheel-clamping firm’s van being clamped for having no road tax will be regarded as poetic justice.

An employee of Southend-based LBS Enforcement, which has demanded substantial payment from hapless motorists across the region, got a taste of their own medicine.

Southend Council spotted the car and swooped. The vehicle was clamped, towed away and impounded.

As it happened, an LBS tow truck arrived on the scene...seemingly just too late to save its own vehicle.

The drama unfolded in Lundy Close, Eastwood, at 9am on Friday and the scene was captured by an amused resident, who snapped the action on his mobile phone.

The resident, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “It was such a fiasco and so funny.

“The clampers obviously hoped to take the van away, but the council beat them too it!

“I don’t think they were amused as one of them stuck a finger up.

“I took the pictures because it was so hilarious and I think a lot of people will be very pleased to see them get clamped for a change.”

Imran Kazalbash, Southend council's team leader for waste management, said the action was authorised by the DVLA, which was contacted by the council after the discovery was made.

He said: “If the owner of the vehicle arrives at the pound to claim their vehicle, and they bring with them their up-to-date tax disc, it will cost them £100 to reclaim their vehicle. This was the situation with the vehicle in question, which has now been reclaimed.

“However, if people do not bring their up-to-date tax disc with them, they will be charged £260.

“They would then be refunded £160 if they returned shortly afterwards with their up to-date tax disc.”

When contacted by the Echo, LBS Enforcement declined to give an official comment as company director Mark Stone was on holiday.

However, an employee said the truck had been immediately retaxed and collected from the council on Friday, and blamed the situation on a clerical error.