In Britain, a vehicle is towed away every five minutes as escalating rules and regulations around parking permits, suspended zones and residents' areas lead to increasing amounts of motorists facing inconvenience and penalties.

The range of circumstances in which motors are seized or lifted varies widely, from driving without insurance to fraudsters using blue badges, and wrecks left behind after major road crashes.

This series follows the officials tasked with taking the vehicles, dealing with the administration and the often bemused, angry motorists who face the consequences.