Motorists who ignore the new bus gate at Threemilestone are being warned they could face possible prosecution.

Cornwall Council has received reports that a small number of drivers are ignoring the signs at the Chyvelah Road bus gate, which clearly indicate the junction is for buses only, and have been using it to access the A390.

"The bus gate is for the use of buses only and a traffic regulation order is in place to enforce this requirement," said a spokesman for the council. "There is CCTV monitoring and automatic number plate reading cameras in place at the junction and the details of any vehicle, other than a bus, trying to use the bus gate will be passed on to the police for further action, including possible prosecution.

"In addition, the council will also be making changes to the traffic lights at the junction so if any vehicle other than a bus tries to go through, they will not trigger a green light."

The bus gate was opened last week, March 16, and is expected to benefit around 1,400 passengers who travel eastbound on buses which stop at Threemilestone every day. The new junction will take around 90 buses away from Threemilestone roundabout every day, helping to cut the number of vehicles using the busy junction.

Chyvelah Road bus gate is the first in a series of highway schemes taking place at junctions along the A390 corridor between Threemilestone and Arch Hill roundabout in Truro, known as the Truro Western Corridor package. With around 18,000 journeys made along the route each day, these highway schemes aim to improve traffic flows and public transport links, as well as provide safe routes for cyclists and support approved developments along the corridor.