A DRIVER who was diverted by police along a buses-only route after a fatal accident is furious he was sent a £30 fine notice.

Queen Street, in Colchester town centre, is normally off-limits to cars turning right from the High Street.

Police diverted traffic down there after a pedestrian in her nineties was killed by a coach on January 16, closing East Hill for five hours.

During the closure, drivers, including Dilwyn Faircloth, were sent down Queen Street by police.

Mr Faircloth, 65, was diverted after picking up his wife, Michaela, from work in the High Street at about 6pm.

A week later, he was astonished to get a a £30 fixed penalty notice, saying he had been caught on a bus lane camera.

He said: “East Hill was closed until about 9pm, so at the end of the High Street, we were directed down Queen Street by a policewoman.

“There were an awful lot of cars going down there on their way home from work.

“The weird thing is I’m a bus driver, so I know the bus lane is there.

“I wouldn’t have gone down there if I hadn’t been directed by a police officer.”

Mr Faircloth, of Cheveling Road, Colchester, said he was sure if he got a ticket, hundreds of other drivers would also have done.

He said: “Did no one at County Hall pick up on the fact the road was closed?

“It seems ludicrous it has sent out all these fines, against which everyone is going to appeal.

“All these letters have been sent out First Class. They keep talking about saving money, but this is an absolute waste.

“They are probably hoping a few hundred will pay without questioning, so they will make their money back, but it’s wrong.”

Essex County Council has apologised and confirmed Mr Faircloth and the other drivers will not have to pay up.

A spokesman said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and would encourage the driver to appeal, using our online complaints system at essex buslanes.org.”