THOUSANDS of drivers are flouting bus lanes daily in Colchester, The Gazette can reveal.

Rogue drivers are still using the northbound lane in North Station Road, between The Albert and Essex Hall roundabout, despite Essex Highways bosses declaring no entry for through traffic, excluding buses, taxis and residents one year ago.

During a number of ten-minute inspections over several days by The Gazette, our reporter witnessed dozens of cars using the stretch of road outside the Norfolk pub.

In one inspection, between 9.30am and 9.40am, 16 cars were seen turning into the road from the Albert roundabout.

Another inspection the following morning saw 16 cars using the road.

During an evening inspection, between 6.15pm and 6.25pm the number of cars jumped to 21.

On each occasion, cars which appeared to belong to residents, taxis and emergency vehicles were discounted.

Using an average figure of 100 cars per hour between 7am and 6pm that means more than 1,000 drivers are flouting the rules every day.

But Essex County Council is yet to state how many tickets have been dished out or whether in fact penalty charges are issued.

Dominic Graham, a Lib Dem Colchester councillor who lives on the stretch of road, said: "My fear is Essex County Council do not know what they are supposed to be doing.

"If you are going to tell people they cannot use a road and hope that people are doing what they are told and not enforce anything, then I would suggest you don't know human behaviour."

He added: "In this case, it does not seem to be enforced regularly and just as a resident, I have not seen a marked reduction in the traffic coming from The Albert.

"It's bizarre how much people's driving behaviour in fixed."

The Gazette carried out similar inspections at the controversial 'no right turn' and witnessed 14 cars joining East Hill from High Street use Lewis Gardens to u-turn make a left-hand turn into Queen Street, which is allowed.

One of the 14 cars even used the left-hand lane, which drivers must use to go straight on, to turn right into Queen Street

Just a handful of motorists were seen using the Hythe crossing, which connects Greenstead Road and Hawkins Road.

Essex County Council is yet to comment.