MORE motorists could be in line for parking ticket refunds – after the city council failed to properly rub out illegal road markings.

Highways officers had reviewed all Stoke-on-Trent City Council's residents' parking zones last year after losing an appeal against a fine because bays had been wrongly painted.

They had tried to solve the problem by blacking over the offending white lines.

But now the council has had to cancel another parking fine after realising the black paint has worn away leaving the illegal white lines clearly visible once again.

The blunder means other motorists can now appeal against recent fixed penalties in affected streets.

The latest overturned ticket was issued to Stephen Espley, who parked in a "residents zone" in Sturgess Street, Stoke, last month.

The 45-year-old, of Clayton, questioned the legality of the markings and overturned the fine.

He said: "After getting my ticket I discovered the road markings in Sturgess Street were painted incorrectly. It looked like oil or dirt had spilled on the second line but it was clearly visible.

"I remembered The Sentinel had reported a similar case in July, where the adjudicator quashed the fine and at the time the council inferred it was the mistake of contractors.

"If this is true surely all fines from tickets issued illegally should have been refunded to the motorists and the council should pursue the private contractors for monies lost. I'm amazed this problem was discovered more than six months ago and still hasn't been put right properly."

Eleven motorists have been issued with tickets in Sturgess Street in the past year.

But it is believed the problem could extend across the city.

In July, motorist Michael Morris won his appeal after raising concerns about similar "residents' only" bays in Fletcher Street, Stoke.

He discovered his fine was invalid because the markings did not comply with Traffic Signs Regulations laws as a double line, instead of a single line, indicated the end of a bay.

Council officials say the parking zone review is still under way.

Councillor Adrian Knapper, portfolio holder for economic development, said: "Signage in Sturgess Street makes it clear that this is a residents' only parking area and only those with relevant parking permits can park in the bays.

"When painting residents' parking bays contractors accidentally painted two lines at the end of the bays.

"When it was brought to the council's attention action was taken to immediately remove the extra white lines. It appears that the paint has now started to reappear so we are working to remove the extra markings."