Plans to use cameras to catch bus-lane offenders in a town centre have been welcomed by councillors, who want the scheme quickly expanded to more areas.

Kent County Council (KCC) is to put ANPR cameras in Maidstone’s High Street and King Street to catch motorists who are ignoring signage limiting the road to buses and cabs.

The scheme, which could be in operation before Christmas, was welcomed by members of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board.

Cllr Maureen Cleator (Lab) said motorists entering the pedestrian-only area were a danger to shoppers as well as delaying bus services.

Parish councils representative Richard Ash said that when waiting to travel back to Bearsted he could sometimes see his bus at the other end of the High Street, but it would still take 10 minutes to reach him because of the congestion.

Councillors each had their idea of where else the ANPR cameras could be used.

Cllr Ian Chittenden (Lib Dem) said there was currently a big problem with cars travelling the wrong way down Peel Street, a one-way road, in order to avoid a pothole in Gladstone Road in Maidstone.

They were putting children heading to St Paul’s Infant School in Hillary Road and to Northborough Junior School in Peel Street in danger, he feared.

He said: “Children crossing the road don’t expect vehicles to be coming the wrong way.”

Cllr Chittenden said he had tried calling 101 to get the police to take action, but that had been “a complete waste of time.”

Cllr Gary Cooke (Con) wanted ANPR cameras put down the B2163 to catch overweight lorries travelling through Leeds village.

Cllr Brian Clark (Lib Dem) wanted cameras positioned to cover the yellow box junction at St Peter’s Street with the bridge ring-road in the town centre.

Vehicles ignoring the rules there, he said, were creating “an absolute nightmare” for children being driven to school in the mornings, and at the weekends for motorists trying to access the retail centre.

Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem) said: “The sooner we get the cameras, the better.”

Those caught out will be fined £70.