More than 150 lorries were clamped in the first week of a controversial crackdown on illegal HGV parking.

Council bosses are stopping truck drivers from parking between Charing and the Drovers roundabout on the A20.

They began the 18-month trial on Monday of last week and clamped 168 HGVs in the first seven days.

Bosses at the jam-packed Ashford truckstop off Bad Munstereifel Road say they turned away a record number of lorries on the first night of the scheme.

Manager Darren Smith said: “We turned away 252 trucks, which was a crazy amount.

“We had 109 reservations for the night, and we usually only have about 30.

“I wish we had more spaces for them, but at the moment we are at full capacity.”

The ban is running from 8pm to 7am the following morning Monday to Friday – and drivers who get clamped have to pay a £250 fine to get the clamp released.

As well as the A20, the restriction is also in force on the Ashford Business Park and Orbital Park in Sevington, as well as at Ellingham Industrial Estate and Wotton Road.

Truckstop owners are preparing to submit a planning application to more than double the size of their site.

Bosses want to build an all-new truckstop with up to 650 spaces close to the railway line, which will see their current site demolished.