Mr Paul Sharples had parked in Croft Street bus stop, next to Burnley Bus Station, when a parking attendant came over after 30 seconds and issued him with the ticket.

Mr Sharples is refusing to pay the fine but Burnley Council has hit back saying the bus stop should only be used by school buses and coach parties.

The ticket shows Mr Sharples was seen parking the bus at 15-14 p.m. and he was ticketed at 15-14 p.m.

"There are no signs up and there are no clear markings," said Mr Sharples, who drives for Transdev Northern Blue and was driving the Bacup No. 8 bus. "All it says is there is no parking, except for buses. There is no way I'm going to pay the fine. I was only there for about 30 seconds. In my opinion I have done nothing wrong. I was waiting there until my stand in the bus station became free. I didn't even leave the bus.

"A lot of the drivers do it and we have not been given any clear clarification on it. I'm probably going to end up getting more fines as I have to wait there for my stand to come free.

"I wasn't in the way and nobody was needing to use the shelter. They must be cracking down on it now because the day after I was given my ticket there were three wardens just all walking around the bus stop waiting."

A Burnley Council spokesman said: "For many years the bus stand in Croft Street has been for the use of school buses and coach excursions only and there are signs up in the stand that tell drivers that. It means they don't have to pay a fee for going into the bus station itself to pick up or drop off passengers.

"Unfortunately some drivers have ignored instructions and use the stand as a waiting area which means that, for example, when a school bus comes along to drop off passengers the stand is full and the school bus driver has had to double park in the road, which means school children have had to get off in the middle of Croft Street which is obviously dangerous.

"There are waiting areas in the bus station which drivers can use. The bus companies have all been reminded that the Croft Street stand is not for general use and warned that Parkwise attendants would ticket any buses that use the stand for parking."