A FATHER was left furious after being fined for driving through a “poorly marked” bus lane which has raked in just over £400,000 in nine months.

Jayanaryan Bhat, of Priory Field Drive, Edgware, was caught going through Christchurch Avenue and Byron Road, Harrow, which is supposed to be restricted to cyclists and buses.

The 68-year-old and his wife, Sujatha, retraced their steps and discovered the warning signs were too far up the road, leaving drivers trapped and unable to make a U-turn.

Feeling incensed, he put in a Freedom of Information request and discovered that since last June, 6,924 people were fined and forced to pay £415,440 in total.

Mr Bhat said: “It’s crazy. If you don’t know the area you won’t realise you can’t drive up there until it’s too late and you get stuck. It’s impossible to go back.

“The signs are totally inadequate and the amount of money they’ve taken from that camera alone is absolutely staggering. It’s really unfair and really not right. I am absolutely stunned. How can one spot generate that sort of money? They are averaging around 769 fines a month, and people have no choice but to pay the money.”

He appealed the £60 fine but did not hear back – and later received a letter saying it had gone up to £185.

He added: “I don’t know why I didn’t get any letter saying my appeal was rejected. I don’t want to have to pay it.

“It feels like Harrow Council is taking undue advantage of residents with this camera. Something has to change.”

The Harrow Times has requested comment from Harrow Council.