THE frustrations of wheel clamping suffered by modern motorists are nothing new and even horse riders in the past could incur penalties, records have proved.

Newly acquired archives at the Wiltshire and Swindon County Record Office in Trowbridge show that more than 200 years ago, a penalty was imposed for those who did not keep an eye on their horse.

The 18th century records, from the Court of the Manor of Bromham, show that fines could be imposed on those who let their horse roam on to common land. It could lead to a fine of up to ten shillings.

, a considerable sum, to secure the eventual release of the offending animal.

The unusual data, which could soon be available for view in Devizes following the county council's decision to move its records office to The Wharf, dates from 1783.

It was bought with the help of the Friends of the National Libraries.

Local names such as Knee, Gaby, Long, Gee, Bailey and Hatter feature as jurors, officers and tenants of the manor.

The records office, which has been the subject of a tustle between Swindon, Trowbridge and Devizes, holds reports of the Bromham court for 40 years between 1545 and 1657 and from 1735 and 1782.