AN angry driver was arrested yesterday after trying to drill a wheel clamp from his car.

But instead of evading an £80 fine, he snapped the drill bit off in the lock. It means a locksmith will have to be called in to remove the £300 clamp, which was wrecked.

The man had his car clamped as part of a joint operation in Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham, between Durham Police and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

PC Jonathan Hamill said: "He was caught kneeling, drilling at the clamp when we arrived. They are anti-tamper proof devices and he was never going to get it off.

"It is foolish for people to think they can remove them by causing criminal damage and they will be dealt with in a positive manner."

The man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to the clamp and was being interviewed last night.

Two cars are due to be towed away from the area, leaving the owners with an £80 fine if they collect their cars from the DVLA compound in Newcastle within 24 hours. They must also pay a £120 surety or produce a valid tax disc - or risk having their cars crushed.

Ten vehicle owners whose cars have been clamped will have to pay £200 up front and will have £120 refunded when they produce a valid disc.

The crackdown came after police post boxes introduced last year were inundated with complaints about car tax dodgers.

To report untaxed vehicles, or any other crime call 0845 60 60 365 of use the police post boxes to pass on information.