scratches on car caused by workmen

[joko]

i parked my car outside my house on the opposite side of the street - right beside a load of workmen who were installing a security camera and wire mesh box over it, an some cement steps etc at the back of a new off licence

when i went back i noticed loads of little scratches all over the back door and wheel arch - also on the black plastic bit...probably about 40 small light scratches, on the door handle too

i was baffled at first as they were on the pavement side and went from top to bottom at an identical angle, rather than across - which would have indicated and car `had passed too closely.
so after some thought, i assumed that this was because of the workmen, short on space trying to construct, manouvre, and install a cover for a security camera, and moving stuff about etc...the marks fit that perfectly - as though they had scraped the wire box across the car..perhaps while going up the ladder....

i asked a neighbour if they saw anything and they said they saw them working very close to my car - bit too close, but didnt see them actually damage it

so what id like to know is, how would i stand if i approached the company and asked them to pay for my car to be resprayed...and presented them with the 'evidence'...?
i realise that i dont really have any 'proof' - but im pretty sure this is what has happened and just feel they should foot the bill...
could i claim a neighbour saw it?

any ideas how i could approach this.. im pretty annoyed that they would scratch the car and then just carry on doing it again an again...the scratches cover a fairly wide area so a respray may cost.

thanks

[tamborine]

Inform the offending company & tell them you have a witness. Depending on their response how you go forward. They sound at fault if they parked after you. If you jammed them in - disputes could arise.

[joko]

thanks
there was no jamming anyone in...i was parked on the road, beside a normal pavement...they even moved their cement mixer - which they had on the road - to allow me to park just ahead of it and then wheeled it back afterwards...there was then about 8ft or so of a gap from my car for them plus another about 7 ft on the other side...they were working just in front of what used to be a garage which has now been turned into an open backyard.
i dont think this was caused by their vehicle or by the mixer...but by them manouvering an constructing a wire mesh box...of about 3ft by 3ft...right beside my car then taking it up a ladder, as well as perhaps moving other things past. the ladder must have been footed about foot from my car door...judging by the width of the pavement..