HUNDREDS of motorists are having fines quashed after a ticket blunder claimed they had gone into a bus lane on a street that doesn't exist.

The simple error of putting Portland Road instead of Portland Street on the penalty notices means Manchester council has lost up to £24,400.

A total of 390 drivers are now off the hook and those who have already coughed up the £60 fine - £30 if paid within 14 days - will now get a refund.

The council says the mix-up was caused by a `technical error'. The nearest Portland Road is three miles away in Longsight.

The error was spotted by city centre courier Phil Ramsdale, from Wigan. He was fined three times for entering the lane on `Portland Road'. He said: "As soon as I saw that they had the wrong street, I knew I had good grounds for an appeal. I know Manchester like the back of my hand.

"The people who sent out these tickets must know Manchester. They probably live in the city as well. To give a street the wrong name is just plain silly."

Mr Ramsdale, 34, also claims the lane, which he says isn't much more than the length of a bus, is inappropriate because delivery drivers have to cross it to get to a loading bay in Piccadilly. He said: "I just think this bus lane is irrelevant. It's of no use to anybody. I just think it's a bit of a trap. It's there to make money."

So far, 128 tickets have been cancelled. The council is now in the process of cancelling the others and refunding any money that has been paid.

Rachel Christie, head of environmental services at the council, said: "We are now in the process of arranging refunds for all those motorists who have previously received tickets there.

"However, drivers should be aware that this error has now been rectified and the bus lane in question is now fully operational."

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