THE first vehicle to be clamped and towed away by City of York Council had been parked illegally in every single one of the authority's car parks, it was claimed today.

The VW Polo - which had notched up an incredible 94 penalty charges for illegal parking - was taken away to a secure compound by the council after earlier being clamped in North Street.

Parking services manager Russ Broadbent said the vehicle would remain there for at least a month to give the owner further opportunity to claim it.

"But if it remains unclaimed after that period, City of York Council is entitled to dispose of it," he said.

The owner would have to go to the parking reception at 9 St Leonard's Place, provide proof of ownership and address details, and in addition to paying the latest £30 parking fine, would also need to pay a £75 charge to cover the cost of the vehicle's removal and a further charge of £6 for every day that it remained in storage - plus £5,300 already clocked up in fines.

He said the authority's records showed that the vehicle had been illegally parked in every one of the council's car parks, at one time or another.

Updated: 10:18 Friday, November 26, 2004