Bus lane cameras in a busy Twickenham street have raked in almost half a million pounds in fines over the past five years.

Three cameras in Heath Road have issued more than 6,800 fines since November 2010, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

One resident, who was fined £130 for driving in a bus lane, said the signs along the road are not clear and branded the cameras "unfair".

Jan Lewis, of Cambridge Crescent, Teddington, said: "I got done for doing a U-turn in the road, parked up and got a fine through the post, which I fought.

"I was told I had driven a considerable length which was maybe the length of a pub.

"The signs aren't clear - the council know it is a cash cow and that is why they don't change it.

"Why have so many people been caught? It is just not fair because we have no choice but to drive through bus lanes to park and then get fined for doing it."

The bus lane was originally covered by two Transport for London cameras until 2013 when they were replaced by a single Richmond Council camera.

This camera, located near Clifden Road, is responsible for 2,905 of the fines issued, giving the council a haul of £173,288.

A Richmond Council spokesman said: "Both the bus lane and the presence of the camera are extensively signposted in Heath Road.

"In the light of this enquiry we will arrange for the present signage to be checked.

"If residents believe the signage is defective at a specific location we will pay particular attention to this, if advised of the location."

The bus lane operates at all hours and over the past five years, less than four fines have been issued on average each day.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann said: "Clearly our bus lanes need to be protected but it's important that any enforcement is both fair and also seen to be fair.

"Unfortunately, the Tories like to portray themselves as the friend of motorists while secretly endorsing the sort of policies for which they often attacked us."