A LIFELONG Blackburn Rovers fan has hit out after he was slapped with two fines for going in a bus lane in the space of five minutes.

Kevin Harrison, 67, had for more than a season parked on Albion Road near Ewood Park and drove through the bus lane on Bolton Road after a game.

He believed fans could drive through the bus lane on matchdays so has been left stunned to find he has been issued with two fines.

The first camera caught him at 7.03pm and then he was snapped going in the bus lane again at 7.08pm before Rovers home game against Sheffield United on October 3.

Blackburn with Darwen Council bosses insist the bus lanes at Ewood have always been active for when Rovers have a home game.

They said that on very few occasions on match days attracting large numbers of fans, the Northbound bus lane from Calico Street to Bolton Road towards the theatre has been open to allow one hours grace after the game to allow traffic to disperse from the area.

The game against Sheffield United attracted a crowd of 14,440.

But Mr Harrison, of Brantwood Avenue, Blackburn, a Rovers season ticket holder, described the bus lane fines as 'ridiculous'.

He said: "All of last season and for this season up until the Sheffield United game, I would drive down Alan Shearer Way and turn left down Bolton Road and go along that before parking down Albion Road.

"After the game, myself and many other fans would drive through the bus lane back onto Bolton Road after the game.

"I was of the belief that you could park on Albion Road and then go through the bus lane on matchdays.

"It was only when I was going to park in my usual place on Albion Road, that someone from the council told me I couldn't park down there anymore and that it's used for home coaches for Rovers fans.

"So I then drove on through the bus lane before coming back round again and ended up going through the bus lane again before turning right onto Bolton Road and finding a parking spot down there.

Mr Harrison said he will be appealing against the two fines which are £30 if paid within 21 days and £60 after that.

He added: "This is just penalising football fans.

"It's difficult enough to park since two parks were closed.

"I'm having to park elsewhere now. For the Leeds game I parked in the town centre and got a bus down.

"I just want to get the message out to other fans that these bus lane fines are being handed out."

A council spokesman added: "The only grace period that we have had in relation to a match day, is that AFTER the game match has ended for 1 hour we allow traffic through the Northbound Bus Lane."

The council added that up until the last few games fans could park on Albion Road, however a Traffic Regulation Order was done at the request of Blackburn Rovers to make the area a place for home coaches only.