More than a thousand drivers have been fined after being caught out using a bus lane in Brighton.

The Oxford Street bus lane linking Ditchling Road and London Road is coming under fire from road users accusing the council of not having proper signs in place and issuing improper fines.

Motorists can enter Oxford Street from Ditchling Road, but they must take the left turn into Oxford Court or they will enter the bus lane and incur a fine.

The junction which leads from Ditchling Road onto Oxford Street is marked with a sign directing drivers to parking on Oxford Court, with some drivers saying they thought the sign implied Oxford Street is a through road.

Driver Paul Durrant said: “Last week, I received a fine as, like hundreds of other drivers, I drove down the road to get to London Road, and didn’t realise that the road had been changed to a bus lane.

Mr Durrant, who is sports and social coordinator at Bellersby College, added: “I find this extremely frustrating as the parking arrow gives you the impression that you can drive down the road. “ Mr Durrant also said that upon going back to Oxford Street he counted 30 cars driving into the bus lane in the space of ten minutes.

Motorists also complained that due to the two to three week delay in receiving a £60 fine, many were repeatedly fined before realising their mistake.

The bus lane is managed by a traffic control camera placed at the Ditchling Road end of Oxford Stree.

A council spokeswoman said: “Oxford Street has had a marked-up bus lane before the junction with London Road for many years.

“Following complaints from residents, bus passengers and the bus company that the bus lane was being ignored by drivers, the council took steps to improve compliance with this bus lane in November.

“This included additional signage in Ditchling Road which states ‘No through road, except buses, taxis and cycles’. The start of the bus lane is also clearly marked with signs and road markings.”

Taxi and bus only signs are in place at the start of Ditchling Road and before the start of the bus lane just past Oxford Court. Motorists do have the option to appeal their fines on the Brighton and Hove City Council website.