Figures released by the county council and published by BBC Lancashire show 36,361 penalty notices were issued for driving into bus gates. The majority of fines were paid within two days of being issued, meaning drivers paid a reduced fee of £35.

The bus gate means only buses, Hackney Carriage taxis and cyclists can use the stretch of road – with cars, private hire taxis and other vehicles also restricted.

The bus gate operates 24 hours a day, unlike other bus zones, such as the Fishergate bus lane through the city centre, which has restricted hours.

A county council spokesperson said: “Since opening in May, 36,361 penalty notices have been issued to drivers who have driven through the Corporation Street bus gate.

“All funds generated go into the county highways budget which the council has available to improve the road network, including introducing safety schemes and filling potholes.”

In May, figures released by the Local Democracy Reporting Service showed the total number of fines for driving in a bus lane in Preston had fallen by 6,000 year-on-year.

The bus lane at Fishergate was the one that attracted the most drivers, with 8,795 drivers caught and Corporation Street looks set to eclipse that figure in its first year of operation.

In recent months it has been confirmed that the county council is considering the construction of two more bus routes for the town.

New Hall Lane is set to see a section of bus lane laid out with an “update expected in the coming weeks” on when work is expected to begin. Councilors on the town council, who represent the Fishwick area where the bus route will run, have called for it to be removed.

Another bus route on Ribbleton Avenue is in the “very early stages of design”.

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