Manchester City Council has already lost up to £24,400 after having to let 390 drivers off the hook because of the error.

Those who have already coughed up the £60 fine - £30 if paid within 14 days - will now get a refund.

The penalty notices said the offences occurred on Portland Road, instead of Portland Street, one of the main thoroughfares in the city centre.

The nearest Portland Road is three miles away in Longsight.

Courier Phil Ramsdale, from Wigan in Greater Manchester, spotted the mistake after he was fined three times.

"As soon as I saw that they had the wrong street, I knew I had good grounds for an appeal. I know Manchester like the back of my hand.

"The people who sent out these tickets must know Manchester. They probably live in the city as well. To give a street the wrong name is just plain silly."

Mr Ramsdale, 34, also claims the lane, which he says isn't much more than the length of a bus, is inappropriate because delivery drivers have to cross it to get to a loading bay in Piccadilly.

"I just think this bus lane is irrelevant," he added. "It's of no use to anybody. I just think it's a bit of a trap. It's there to make money."

So far, 128 tickets have been cancelled. Manchester City Council is now in the process of cancelling the rest of the 390 and refunding any money that has been paid.

The authority says the mix-up was caused by a 'technical error'.

Rachel Christie, head of environmental services, said: "We are now in the process of arranging refunds for all those motorists who have previously received tickets there.

"However, drivers should be aware that this error has now been rectified and the bus lane in question is now fully operational."

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