A HEAVILY pregnant woman was left stressed and struggling to breathe properly after she and a friend were clamped in a pub car park.

Zoe Stace, who is due to give birth later this month, was being driven back to her Lymington office when she told colleague Debbie Kelly that she needed the loo.

Debbie decided to park outside the Rydal Arms pub in Station Road, New Milton.

"Zoe was desperate to go to the loo but there was nowhere to park so we popped into the Rydal and went to Bradbeers," she said.

"We were only gone ten to 15 minutes but someone from the pub pounced on us as soon as we got back.

Go halves He said it would cost us £165 to have the car released but offered to charge us only half if we paid immediately and because he could see that Zoe was heavily pregnant."

The two women, who both work for the New Forest Post, agreed to go halves.

Debbie added: "I paid with a cheque and debit card but couldn't afford it - I'm a single mother and it's three weeks before Christmas."

Zoe, 31, of Hordle, said: "I'm going on maternity leave later this month and need every penny I can get."

Asked about her colleague being clamped she said: "It was an absolute nightmare - I couldn't breathe properly from the stress.

"I feel discriminated against. I only went there because I'm heavily pregnant and needed a loo."

The two women are the latest victims of a new regime at the pub, which has decided to clamp anyone who is not a patron.

Assistant manager Lee Maycock said: "People were parking here while they visited the shops, which meant there was nowhere for customers to park. There are four huge signs in the car park and the guy who does the clamping sits in a bright yellow tow truck.

"The woman who was pregnant would have been most welcome to use the toilets at the pub."