Dozens of motorists have been snapped by new cameras watching people straying into bus lanes - including a driving instructor, police officer and council workers.

The Argus photographed more than 20 drivers flouting the rules in just one hour after the cameras went live in Brighton town centre yesterday.

Each faces a £60 fine - which is halved if paid early but rises £90 for late payers - meaning the revenue raised while we were watching could turn out to be well in excess of £1,000.

Several motorists were snapped using mobile phones and will face separate penalties from Brighton and Hove City Council and Sussex Police.

Council vehicles and a police car were also spotted in the bus lane running from Dyke Road to the Clock Tower but both are exempt from prosecution.

Our photographer counted a further ten drivers in bus lanes on Western Road.

A council spokeswoman said: "Council vehicles are allowed in bus lanes if they are performing a statutory duty.

"If someone is doing a job the council is obligated to do and requires a vehicle to do it they are allowed to drive in the bus lane.

"The same applies to emergency vehicles, whether they are on an emergency call or not."

Cameras will monitor six sections of bus lane in Dyke Road, Queens Road, Western Road and North Street.

The fines are £60 but drop to £30, if paid within 14 days, or rise to £90 if they remain unpaid after 28 days.

Taxis, tuk-tuks and bicycles are allowed to use the lanes but cars and motorcycles are prohibited.

The council hopes to make £75,000 in the first 12 months. The money raised will go towards the cost of installing the equipment.

The council spokeswoman said: "The first day of bus lane enforcement went pretty smoothly.

"We won't have any figures until we carry out a review in a few months but we hope once people start getting the message that bus lanes are for buses, we'll see a steady drop in the number of cars using them."

Motorists' number plates will be recorded and tickets sent to their homes.

The scheme has been introduced to speed up bus travel.

Roger French, chief executive of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach company, said he had been lobbying for legislation to punish bus lane-abusers for years.

He said: "I have been very keen for this to happen for many years now.

"I am delighted it's actually happening.

"The Clock Tower is a blackspot for people abusing bus lanes, particularly people driving down Dyke Road.

"The council has the ability to extend this if there is a problem elsewhere in the city.

"We expect once people start getting the fines drivers will be deterred from using them."