A MAN has accused Reading Borough Council of “trying to catch drivers out” after being fined for driving in a bus lane that he claims had no warning signs.

Don McVey, a freelance cameraman from Lewisham, travelled to the borough on April 24 to film The Oracle shopping centre for a Sky television programme.

The 36-year-old was stung with a £60 penalty charge notice for driving his Hyundai down the Minster Street bus lane – which he claims “came completely out of nowhere”.

Mr McVey said: “I have never come across a road that actually forces you to either do a U-Turn or drive down a bus lane before.

“I live in London and do a lot of driving for my job. I have never once got a penalty ticket for driving down a bus lane because I’ve been driving for 20-odd years and I’m not stupid and I’m also a very careful driver.”

He added: “I do think that Reading Borough Council are purposely trying to catch people out with this. There’s no signage on Minster Street saying that road will turn into a bus lane until it’s too late, and it’s so wordy you don’t have time to read it.”

Mr McVey, who previously worked as a traffic management officer in the capital, has also criticised a lack of “simplistic” road signs around the borough’s town centre.

“There’s so much text on some of the signs around Reading,” he said. “It’s as if the council make it impossible for people to read – it’s just not fair. They’re absolutely trying to get one over on us.”

A Reading Borough Council spokesman said the Minster Street bus restriction had been in place since 2011.

He added: “Advanced warning signs are in place on King Street, just before Duke Street, and all bus lanes are properly signed and marked on the basis of national regulations.”

Mr McVey paid the penalty charge on Friday last week, reducing it to £30 as he got a 50 per cent discount for paying in less than two weeks.