Motorists will faces fines for up to £70 for driving in bus lanes at certain times from Monday.

Bolton Council is to tackle the unauthorised use of bus lanes by motorists by switching on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at more than a dozen locations across the borough.

The authority said it is switching on the ANPR cameras on Monday with anyone who is caught for an infringement within their time of operation receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

There are currently 14 bus lanes across the borough and enforcement has previously been carried out by traffic wardens and the police.

Town Hall chiefs said that signage is now in place at all bus lanes notifying people of the operating times.

They say the idea is to deter unauthorised vehicles, reduce congestion, and improve bus journeys.  

The time of operation ranges from three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening to all day, every day and the PCN is £70, or £35 if paid within three weeks of the infringement.

The Bolton News: The bus lane on Knowsley Street

Hamid Khurram, cabinet member for highways, said: "The bus lanes aim to help to provide a reliable bus service. When a bus is held up it impacts passengers and those who are waiting.

"By increasing our enforcement in this area we are strengthening our commitment to a cleaner, greener Bolton because a reliable bus service is integral to this. We hope this enforcement will deter motorists from using bus lanes illegally."

The activation of the ANPR cameras comes after the launch of the Bee Network in Bolton and Wigan last month with the authorities taking control of the buses in all areas from tickets to timetables.

Metro Mayor Andy Burnham apologised to those affected by the disruption but within a week, at a Question Time event at the University of Bolton, he suggested the Bee Network was on track.

READ MORE: Bolton: Fines for breaking the rules at these five junctions.

Bolton Council is switching on ANPR cameras at more than a dozen locations across the borough.

Here is a list:

Bridge Street, all day
Deansgate, all day
Derby Street, Monday to Friday, 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm*
Deane Road, Monday to Friday, 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm
Great Moor Street, all day
Knowsley Street, all day
Newbrook Road, Monday to Friday, 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm
St Georges Road, all day
St Helens Road, Monday to Friday, 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm*

*An asterisk means there are multiple ANPR cameras on this road.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.