A total of 500 clamps were illegally removed in one year by motorists in Dublin, according to figures released by the enforcement company.

Dublin Street Parking Services said a total of 77 vehicles involved were impounded in 2015 when they were later caught parking illegally.

A report to councillors states that a "robust approach" is taken to the illegal removal of clamps with the vehicle's registration being flagged on the system.

If the vehicle is subsequently found parked illegally, it is immediately impounded.

The report states that 53 motorists had to pay an average of €800 to get their car back in these circumstances.

Owners of the other 24 failed to pay the outstanding fees and these vehicles were sold off for an average of just over €500 each.

The report says that in this way it recovered a total of over €54,000 compared to the loss of clamping fees totalling €40,000.

It states that a number of motorists who were caught removing the clamp have been prosecuted with one motorist being fined €1,250.