Clamping device for formwork panels

A clamping device to clamp adjacent formwork panels in a fixed position relative to each other prior to a concrete pour, the clamping device having an elongate backing plate against which edges of the panels can be held, the backing plate having an outer face adapted to contact the poured concrete, and an opposed inner face, a plurality of linearly spaced apart collars rigidly attached to the inner face, each collar having a bore, a plurality of rods each having a first leg which can pass into said bore, and a second threaded leg which extends at an angle outwardly from the bore, such that the first leg can at least partially rotate within the bore to allow the second leg to pivot about a vertical axis, and clamping members attachable to and moveable along the rod between a clamping position where the clamping member clamps the formwork panels against the backing plate and the clamping member contacts the panels on or within an imaginary line extending between the edges of the two flanges of the backing plate, said imaginary line being straight, and a free position where the formwork panels can be removed from the device.