Transport for London ‘broke the law’ by using CCTV and not traffic wardens to fine drivers to fine drivers, according to a landmark ruling.

Motorists could be owed millions of pounds in refunds from penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued illegally in London after a panel of lawyers ruled against the capital’s transport authority acting for Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The test case found that TfL broke government guidance by using CCTV rather than civil enforcement officers (CEOs), traffic wardens, to fine motorists parked in bays on red routes in London.

In 2015, the government introduced laws to limit the use of CCTV in issuing fines because of ‘overzealous enforcement by local authorities’.