Damaged cars in the Shrewsbury Hotel car park

A Shrewsbury man today spoke of his anger as he claimed his son was faced with a £150 bill to release his car – after it was badly damaged in the Shrewsbury blast.

Adam Walder parked his Peugeot at the Shrewsbury Hotel to watch an FA Cup match at the pub on Sunday before fleeing the building when the explosion happened, causing a nearby building to collapse.

Today David Williams, the father of the 21-year-old from Monkmoor, said he was concerned that his son had been told he would have to pay the release fee.

But West Mercia Police, and the recovery firm involved, Astley Recovery Services, near Shrewsbury, today said they were working together to ensure nobody was unfairly treated.

Mr Williams said his son was in the Shrewsbury Hotel when the explosion happened. He added: “Obviously he got away from the scene and left his car, which had smashed windows and some other damage.

“As soon as he got home, he called the police to let them know his car was one of those in the car park and they said they would call him when he could collect it.

“He called them twice on Monday and they told him he couldn’t have it. He then received a call later that day advising his car had been taken to Astley recovery and it would cost him £150 to release his car, and £50 per day thereafter if it wasn’t collected.” Mr Williams described the situation as “disgraceful” and said his son’s insurance company was going to pick up the car last night and meet the cost.

But in a joint statement released on behalf of the force and the recovery firm Superintendent Martin Whitelegg, from West Mercia Police, said: “Astley Recovery are working with the police to ensure no-one is unfairly treated as a result of having their vehicle removed from this incident.”