A BRICKLAYER staged a rooftop protest after being clamped at a petrol station.

Russell Pinner, 46, climbed on to the roof of the Total garage, in High Road, Benfleet, to unfurl a banner reading “Total rip off clamping con”.

Mr Pinner launched his one man protest after having to pay out £296 to release his car.

He had popped into the garage to get some cigarettes, but then crossed the road to buy a sausage roll and had been clamped by firm LPC Parking Solutions by the time he returned.

Mr Pinner returned to the garage the following day to stage his demo.

He said: “I’ve got every right to protest and I think I was getting a lot of support. It’s just daylight robbery.

“It’s not on to do that to people. We’ve been using the garage to nip into the shops for years. I’d bought some cigarettes and I thought while I’m there I’ll run to Greggs for a sausage roll. By the time I got back, I had been clamped.”

The protest began at about 10am on Friday, when he used a ladder to clamber on to the roof of the garage.

Police were called, while a crowd of people gathered to watch the drama unfold. Many shouted encouragement, while several cars tooted their horns as they drove past.

Mr Pinner was eventually ushered down by police two hours later in front of a crowd of more than 50 onlookers.

He left his banner on the roof and was taken away by police for questioning.

The owners of the garage shop, the Park Garage Group, introduced clampers on the site last Thursday over claims motorists were parking on the forecourt and then using the shops opposite.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “The man was taken to Benfleet police station where he was given words of advice. No further action will be taken as he has not caused any damage and carried out a peaceful protest.”

Park Garage Group, which runs the shop and hired the clampers, declined to comment.