Nearly 3,000 fines have been handed out to motorists for continuing to ignore new traffic-free zones set up around schools in part of Kent.

In the first six months that Medway Council created ‘school streets’ around seven sites, drivers who broke the rules were given a warning.

This project, which introduces a temporary restriction of traffic on main roads around schools at fixed times in the morning and afternoon, came into force on March 11.

Until September 11, drivers received a letter reminding them of the ban, but now those who continue to drive in the areas are fined £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days .

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that immediately after the grace period ended, hundreds of fines were issued to drivers every week, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Between September and October, 2,835 penalty notices were issued, raising between £99,225 and £198,450, all of which the council said would be reinvested into the road network.

The roads where drivers are most regularly fined are those around Burnt Oak Primary School in Gillingham, with 358 fine notices issued in just one week.

In September, Medway Council announced plans to extend the project to nine more sites and began consultation with parents and residents.

Alex Paterson, the authority’s portfolio manager for community safety, highways and law enforcement, said: “Every month around 1,200 children are injured on the road as they travel to school, less than 500 meters from their school.

“So if we can take as many cars out of that equation as possible, it will inherently make those trips safer.”

The second round of school streets proposals, which include nine additional schools, are due to be considered at the next cabinet meeting on November 19.

Councilors will consider the responses to the consultation and decide whether the project should go ahead.