Town hall chiefs have hit back at a report saying councils collected nearly £42m in penalties last year from motorists caught driving in bus lanes.

A report by comparison website Confused.com said freedom of information requests revealed that authorities handed out 888,760 bus lane fines last year.

Oxford High Street was the most penalty-heavy road, generating £1.41 million in penalties, while Glasgow City Council handed out the most fines, raising £6,524,100.

However transport spokesman for the Local Government Association (LGA), Martin Tett, said money from fines for traffic offences was spent on local transport improvements and help to keep pedestrians, motorists and cyclists safe and enable people to park near their homes.

Cllr Tett said: 'Traffic enforcement cameras help to ensure public transport, such as buses and trams, operates efficiently, reduces congestion and keeps roads safe and flowing freely for road users.

'Fines from traffic offences are spent on local transport improvements and help to keep pedestrians, motorists and cyclists safe and ensure people can park near their homes and local shops.

'Councils make no apologies for enforcing the law and if any motorist believes they have been fined unfairly, then they have the right to appeal against it.' 'The fact that over 99 per cent of parking and bus lanes fines are not appealed clearly shows that the overwhelming majority of people who are ticketed accept that they have broken the rules.'