The warnings had been issued and the traps set - now it was simply a question of waiting for the prey.

As motorists drove past, state-of-the-art Stingray cameras scanned their cars and singled out the guilty.

Many culprits whose road tax had not been paid took their punishment on the chin, albeit with a snort of disdain or a roll of the eyes.

But for some it was just too much and the histrionics began.

One bemused onlooker in Broadwater Road, Worthing, yesterday said: "Some of the people getting caught were unbelievably upset.

"One woman had this look of absolute disbelief and was trying to get the clamp off herself.

"The police had to ask her very nicely to leave it alone.

"And there was one bloke who went berserk. He started crying, threw his keys and tried to kick the clamp off.

"It was lucky the police were there to support the DVLA and calm things down.

"But a lot of people were really pleased these tax dodgers were getting what was coming to them and they beeped in support as they went past.

"Another guy who also got done for having dodgy tyres told the police his car did a lot of mileage, as if that was some kind of excuse.

"But a lot of people were just really angry they had been clamped.

"I just couldn't believe anyone would have the cheek to be upset about the inconvenience when they were driving around with no road tax."

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) had teamed up with Sussex Police and the Vehicle Inspectorate to catch some of Sussex's 50,000 road tax evaders who cost £5.6 million a year in lost revenue.

It is all part of a national campaign which was launched in a blaze of publicity with the message: "No exceptions, No excuses, No escape."

The digital Stingray cameras, able to detect road tax cheats on the move in a fraction of a second, found plenty of victims.

Vehicles without valid tax discs were wheelclamped and owners had to pay £200 within 24 hours to have them released at the roadside.

Those who failed to pay within 24 hours had their vehicles impounded, the release fee rising to £280 plus £15 a day for storage.

Tax cheats also face fines of £1,000 for a car or motorcycle and £23,000 for a Heavy Goods Vehicle, as well as back duty.

Terry Barnard, head of enforcement for the DVLA, said: "We are taking a hard line and stepping up our enforcement activity in a determined effort to clamp down on this irresponsible group who evade paying their road tax.

"Honest motorists are infuriated at having to subsidise these cheats and it is a constant source of resentment."

The DVLA estimates that a third of motorists reported for road tax evasion are committing other offences, including having no MoT certificate, no insurance and defective tyres.

Among those clamped in Sussex since the campaign was launched earlier this month are a private ambulance, an untaxed Rolls Royce, a disqualified driver and a motorist driving on three bald tyres.

In October 2002, Hastings Borough Council became the first local authority outside London to take on DVLA powers to wheelclamp, impound and dispose of unlicensed vehicles.

Throughout Great Britain, 136,000 unlicensed vehicles have been wheelclamped and many crushed.

From 2004, registered owners of vehicles will be legally responsible at all times for licensing their vehicles.

This responsibility will remain until the registered keeper notifies the DVLA that the vehicle has been sold, scrapped, stolen or exported, or unless a current Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) has been declared.

Drivers will face an automatic £80 penalty if they fail to relicense their vehicle on time.

Transport Minister David Jamieson said: "Road tax dodgers are now in the frame as DVLA camera teams can move quickly from location to location.

"Honest motorists are fed up with the small hard core who continually evade paying their road tax and meeting their other obligations.

"Before enforcement action is taken, DVLA staff will ensure the offence details match with the vehicle and licensing computer records."