An angry lorry driver threatened to set himself alight after council officials clamped his truck on an industrial estate in Ashford.

Police were called to the Orbital Park in Sevington after the trucker became incredibly agitated during the second week of a controversial crackdown.

Council leaders are running an 18-month clamping trial following numerous complaints from residents concerned about nuisance lorry parking.

The driver, who was from Bulgaria, eventually calmed down and paid for the clamp to be removed from his lorry in Hall Avenue.

Trucker Mason Stephens, of Bentley Road in Willesborough, said he heard about the incident, which happened in early November.

“The Bulgarian lad was really stressed about it all,” Mr Stephens said.

“He said he feared he would be sacked if he told his boss he had been fined and it was very worrying for him.

“He was very angry and distressed by it.

"It has been terrible for drivers since the trial started..." - Mason Stephens

“From what I heard, they took him down to the Ashford Truckstop where they got him parked up and he calmed down.”

The ban stops HGV drivers from parking on the A20 between Charing and the Drovers roundabout, as well as four industrial estates in the town.

It was previously said drivers have to pay £250 to get the clamp released, but they have been paying £75 according to a report by Ashford Borough Council.

In the first month of the trial, 612 HGVs were clamped – including 256 lorries on the A20.

Of the 612 HGVs clamped in the first four weeks, 544 were foreign registered and 67 were from Britain.

Mr Stephens added: “It has been terrible for drivers since the trial started.

“It has encouraged parking in other places like entrances to fields and in bus stops.

“It has been a win-win for the council but nothing for the drivers.”

Ashford’s joint transportation board was given an update on the scheme at its meeting on Tuesday night.