The law-breakers behind the wheel in Bognor town centre

The drivers were handed 30 fixed-penalty tickets during the latest police crackdown on those who ignore the no-entry signs for the road's central section.

Many more motorists dodged tickets by making hasty U-turns when they saw the police officers.

That probably took the number of drivers who would have gone past the no-entry signs to one every 60 to 90 seconds.

One of the officers involved in the enforcement action has pledged it would take place again.

PC Mark Linberry said: "I will be repeating the operation in the High Street as this is one of the problems raised on a regular basis at the Town, Hotham and Marine neighbourhood management forums.

"It is clearly an issue in the town centre and will continue to be a priority of ours on the neighbourhood policing team for this area."

The High Street's present restricted access was officially launched almost five years ago, in July 2004, following a controversial trial.

Only buses and emergency vehicles can enter the road's central section '“ between the London Road precinct and The Arcade '“ from the west side.

From the east, entry is allowed only for disabled drivers and deliveries before 11am and after 4pm to get to the precinct.

Motorists '“ apart from commercial delivery vehicles and taxis '“ are also banned from York Road from 7am to 7pm.

PC Linberry said: "For many years, the signage has been in place in the High Street and York Road.

"On numerous occasions, these signs are being ignored by the driving public and cars are going everywhere."

The crackdown for an hour last Wednesday morning and an hour in the afternoon was designed to show motorists this situation could not continue.

A total 36 motorists were booked by the police. They included drivers of lorries who were just seeking a short cut.

The law-breaking drivers are putting pedestrians at risk as they cross an area which they expect to be free of vehicles.

Felpham resident Michael Etheridge was nearly knocked over by such a motorist recently.

He was crossing the High Street by the NatWest branch with a friend when a woman driver came along the High Street from the no-entry section to make an illegal turn into Bedford Street.

"She wound her window down to wave us out of the way," said Mr Etheridge, 79. "We told her she had no right to do what she wanted.

"A man then ran over and told her the same. She asked him if he was a traffic warden, he said 'no' and she told him to go away.

"She was rolling forward all the time in a people carrier-style car. She never stopped.

"We would have been run over if we hadn't got out of the way.

"She was determined to keep going."

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