Angry drivers who have been landed with £75 fines for veering into a new bus lane in Hounslow have attacked the set-up as a scam.

Now some motorists face going to court after refusing to pay the penalty for accidentally driving along the link road that passes in front of Asda at the Blenheim Centre.

But developers deny it is a money-spinner and blame drivers for ignoring signs stating that the road is for bus, taxi and cyclists' use only.

Finance worker Anita D'Souza, 36, said she was caught out on August 16 when she became confused about how to return to the main road on exiting the Blenheim Centre car park.

She said: "I'd never been on that road before and I didn't realise it was a bus lane - it wasn't red and there were no markings on the road itself, only a little post with a very small sign, but it's facing away from the driver so I didn't see it.

"A normal car park would have directions. You can get quite confused.

"I thought it was a scam initially. I phoned TfL who advised me to throw the letter away, but the second time I called they said it could be a private road.

"That got me thinking, why is someone enforcing a law that's on a private road?"

"A lot of people don't want the hassle and will just pay up, but if they want to take me to court they can. It's the principle behind it."

Fines, which are posted by Highview Parking along with a photo of the car, increase to £125 if they are not paid within two weeks, after which motorists face legal action.

Epsom resident Pat Amarouche also fell foul of the sign as she drove to Hounslow on the way to a wedding on August 30.

She said: "I had no idea I was on private property.

"You would have to get out of your car to read the notice.

"I consider this a scandal and I will contest it because I have been stung by a company that is just running a scam."

Developer Blenheim Norwest's managing director Ray Daniel said people had been employed to man both ends of the road when it opened last year, advising drivers against using it.

He said: "In the end, because there was a vast number of people driving through - 130 to 140 cars per week - we had to put cameras in.

"We've just got to stop people going down there - people are just ignoring the signs.

"There's ample signage at both ends of the road and as you look at the entrance to the link road there's prominent signage.

"All road signs are in accordance with specifications set out by the Highways Agency."

"It's obviously not a scam - we are a reputable company."

Mr Daniel said that TfL had insisted the road was out of bounds to car drivers and that his company been burdened with stopping people from using the road.

His promise to look into the matter and was backed by a spokesman for Hounslow Council.

The spokesman said: "Hounslow Council has received calls from a number of drivers who have not understood the implications of using this road.

"The Blenheim Centre has assured Hounslow Council it is looking into this matter, including reviewing current signage to establish whether it is sufficient."