THIS is the damage a Bream man says his car has incurred after visiting a local hand car wash business.

Steve Cave says he is in a war of words with Lydney Hand Car Wash, in Newerne Street, who refuse to admit liability for the removal of lacquer paint in three places on his 62 plate red Vauxhall Astra.

The business owner says the car paint was already damaged.

Steve said: “I posted a status on Facebook asking if anybody had the garage’s number because I had found the damage after I left them. This sparked a lot of messages from others who had similar issues.

“A week after visiting the garage for the first time, I met the boss who said the damage was because I have a red car. He continued to explain that it is not their fault and they are not responsible. He refused to provide me with any insurance details after I asked for them, and I was offered no apology or refund. He said if I wasn’t happy, to call the police and insurance provider and ‘get them down here’.

“What’s more I also paid them to clean inside and a day later, my car smelt of pond water – it took four days of continual fabric freshener dousing to return it to a bearable smell.

“The staff must have used the jet wash inside my boot as everything in the tyre well, which in my car is storage not a spare wheel, was drenched in this foul smelling garbage water.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve heard people complain about the condition of their car after they have taken it there to be cleaned.

“Before I contact Trading Standards I intend to contact the dealer I got the car from to see if there was a problem with the paint work, then based on that get a professional paintwork company to confirm it was damaged by the cleaners, get a quote for the repair and try speaking with them one final time.

“It is a shame this has happened as I believe in supporting local trades.”

Ahmed Farhad, who has run Lydney Hand Car Wash since 2008, disputed the claims.

He said: “The car was really scratched beforehand. We use the highest quality and most expensive products and as a favour offered to repair the car for free. We are not in the business of damaging our customers’ vehicles.

“In regards to other complaints, I am not aware of any. I try to do a customer feedback survey afterwards and usually they are positive.

“All professional car spray painters and valeters will tell you that if there is untreated damage to body work and water gets in contact then it will naturally peel. It just so happens it looks worse on red vehicles.”