AS churches, they are supposed to turn the other cheek.

But two Hampshire places of worship have turned to a clamping firm which slaps fines of hundreds of pounds on drivers who park in the wrong place.

St Mary’s Church in Southampton and the Holy Trinity Church in Winchester are using the controversial practice to stop motorists using their grounds as a free car park.

But both are unrepentant about their decision.

It comes after church bosses discouraged the use of clampers, and one national motoring body describing it as “not the most Christian of approaches.”

The revelation also follows a Daily Echo investigation into the world of car clamping and the impact on drivers, some of who have reported paying more than £700 after their car was clamped and impounded.

The Daily Echo has also backed a campaign to outlaw clamping on private land altogether.

Legislation aimed at a ban is inching through Parliament and could come into force early next year.

The two churches involved have both said they were left with no choice because of their city centre locations.

But Brian Macdowell from the Association of British Drivers said the churches involved should reconsider their decision.

He said: “It is certainly not the most Christian of approaches.

“One would have to ask the churches to reconsider and see what the extent of the parking problem is and see what other measures there are.

“It certainly surprises me – have they honestly exhausted all other means?”

Both Holy Trinity and St Mary’s use Whites Car Park Solutions for their clamping needs, but nobody was available for comment from the company last night.

Managing director Jason White has always defended his firm claiming he acts within the law to provide a good service for people with parking issues.

StMary’s Church administrator John Hunter said some motorists had been abusive when he asked them to move their cars.

On other occasions, he said, hearses had been forced to park on the road at funerals with the coffin carried between illegally parked cars in the church driveway.

He added: “Because we are smack bang in the middle of a city and we have no gates on our drive, people think they can park for free.

“As far as we are concerned, we are doing everything in an open and transparent way – all the signs are there and everything is open for people to see.

“If somebody comes and parks in the wrong place and they are genuinely part of the church, I ring the clamping company and they come and take the clamp off.

“I have no complaints with Jason White – he’s a lovely guy.”

John Kimber, the Church Warden at Holy Trinity, said: “The Church is in a very popular location, and parking in the city is limited.

It is important that there are spaces available for those who are taking a part in church life, some of whom are elderly and struggle to walk longer distances.

“The third party firm who control our parking only employ a wheel-clamp in the most extreme situations, when a car has been parked illegally.

“Sadly, such a deterrent was deemed necessary, because without it, the Parochial Church Council found the facility was too often misused by those who are not attending church.”

In response to the claim that using clampers was “not the most Christian of approaches” a spokesman from the Diocese of Winchester said: “As far as I can tell, it is driven by the fact the churches need a car park for the good work they are doing.”

The Diocese added: “We would discourage the use of clampers and ask churches to explore other options. But I know churches would only do that as a last resort when they have got people who are not able to attend (because of people parking illegally).

“It would not be a decision that would be taken lightly."