A MOTORIST caught by a speed camera on a Runcorn Expressway walked free from court on Friday after challenging the prosecution.

Dad-of-two Paul Abel, from Sandymoor, discovered there was an error in a traffic regulation order and the case was immediately withdrawn at Runcorn Magistrates Court.

And he now believes there could be hundreds of other drivers who may have paid fines or given penalty points for an offence they have not committed since the order was introduced in 2014.

The 43-year-old car salesman was driving along the A533 Bridgewater Expressway on Saturday, February 6, when a mobile police speed camera captured him.

The 60mph speed limit has been reduced to 40mph as traffic passes through Mersey Gateway roadworks in Astmoor.

However, a temporary order fails to cover a section of the road from the end of the roadworks to the Astmoor turn off – where the speed camera was operating.

“I already had some points and could have lost my licence which could have affected my business,” said Paul, owner of MSP Motors on Picow Farm Road for nine years.

“There could be many other people who got done in the same place.

“They could have lost their licences or even their livelihoods if they depended on their cars.”

He said he regularly drives through the roadworks at 40mph on his way to work.

“There is a sign saying ‘end of road works’ so I assumed it had gone back to 60mph,” he added.

“I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

His dad, Geoff Abel, a police officer for 30 years, defended him in court.

He said: “The order says that the 40mph limit is from a point 365 metres eastward to Astmoor Road and should have said westward.

“The wording of the order was wrong. They made a complete and utter pig’s ear of it.

“From the enforcement log supplied by Cheshire Constabulary it would appear that there were 90 alleged offenders during the morning Paul was caught.

“There could potentially be hundreds if not thousands of motorists who have paid penalty fines or even lost their licence, not be able to travel to work and lost their jobs.”

A Halton Council spokesman said: “There was an error in the current traffic regulation order for the section of Bridgewater Expressway and a new amended order will be made shortly.”