Motorists in Barking and Dagenham paid out more than half a million pounds in fines after the council introduced 24-hour bus lanes to ease congestion during the Olympics.

Almost 11,000 penalty charge notices (PCNs) were handed to people who drove in 24-hour bus lanes between July 1, when the restrictions were introduced and August 24, when they came to an end.

During the previous two months, between the same period of time up to the end of June, just under 2,000 PCNs were issued to motorists driving in bus lanes.

Drivers caught out during the 24-hour bus lane period paid out a total of �546,659, the authority confirmed.

A number of motorists claim the changes, introduced to keep traffic flowing during the Olympic Games, were not well publicised and that signage was inadequate.

Sampath Gamvasam, 36, was fined four times in July in High Road, Chadwell Heath. He said: “I used that bus lane every day on my commute to and from work, and had no idea they had introduced the 24-hour restriction.

“The bus sign was covered by branches and there were no other warning signs. I was shocked when I received the fines.”

Mr Gamvasam, of Kenneth Road, Chadwell Heath, has since appealed his PCNs with the council and two have been quashed and one suspended. He is taking the third to Parking and Traffic Appeals Service.

June Jones, 79, who was fined on August 3 but had the penalty overturned, also argued that the High Road sign was covered by thick tree branches, which were later trimmed back.

Former driving instructor, John Chu, of Grove Road, Chadwell Heath, was fined twice in High Road in July.

Mr Chu, who is taking his PCNs to appeal, said: “There were no warning signs. The council said it publicised the changes on the web and in local newspapers, but a lot of people don’t read these.

“It has made so much money from this – it’s not right.”

John Power, of Dagenham, was fined for driving in a bus lane on two occasions in July. He challenged the second fine but was unsuccessful.

“I feel I was tricked,” he told the Post.

Fines are charged at �130 or �65 if paid within 14 days.

A council spokesman insisted additional yellow warning signs were put up to warn people of the 24-hour bus lanes and the changes were well publicised.

He added: “The signage and publicity was not necessarily insufficient because the increase in the number of PCNs can probably be explained by the increased hours of operation.”