THE boss of a Swansea Valley garage is calling for a written apology from South Wales Police after one of his cars, driven by an apprentice, was wrongly impounded.
Ron Griffiths, who owns a garage business in Cwmllynfell, claims a vehicle belonging to him was impounded by a private firm after a police officer stopped 20-year-old Christopher Wray driving the vehicle.
Mr Griffiths said: "Chris, my apprentice, was taking a car up to Merthyr when he got stopped by a police officer questioning whether he was insured to drive the car."
Police confirmed that they had stopped the car as apart of a general clamp down on antisocial behaviour involving cars.
A spokesman also confirmed that officer had arranged for the family concerned to be reimbursed.
Mr Griffiths said it took a couple of hours to sort out the insurance query by which time the car had been impounded by a private firm.
He said: "I was back and forth to the insurance company and the police. In the meantime the car was put on the back of a low-loader and impounded in Hirwaun.
"I had to go up with my Chris, with his insurance details and his driving licence to the police station in Merthyr to get a release note. I then had to go to Hirwaun to pick the car up.
"I had to pay £150."
Afterwards Mr Griffiths said he decided to chase the matter up with South Wales Police headquarters in Bridgend.
He said: "I phoned the police headquarters in Bridged to put my case forward. I was phoned back the next morning and told I would be reimbursed."
Mr Griffiths said he has been left upset by the whole episode.
He said: "I lost a day's work by the time I went up to Merthyr, and back to Hirwaun. I had to go up a second time to get the cash off them.
In all I have lost a whole day's work.
"I have not had a written apology to date and I am considering taking it further."
Christopher Wray, who was driving the car at the time it was stopped and impounded, said: "I felt gutted but I knew that I was all legal."
A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "Racing and anti-social use of cars is of concern to the community in Merthyr Tydfil and pro-active stop checks are carried out to ensure vehicles are being used legally.
"On February 28 police seized a Vauxhall Corsa in Swan Street, Merthyr Tydfil, after receiving information that the car was being driven without correct insurance.
"Subsequent checks confirmed that the vehicle had valid insurance and South Wales Police arranged for a full refund of the relevant fees."