A REPORT advising police not to reimburse motorists fined for 'speeding' on an A road is "absolute nonsense", according to a man who uncovered an error in how the speed limit was imposed.

Scores of motorists received points and fixed penalties or court fines for driving over 30mph on a section of the A378 at Fivehead.

But it later emerged the Traffic Regulation Order used to drop the limit from 40mph in 2015 mistakenly named the road Church Road.

Meanwhile, Avon and Somerset Police have suspended speed checks at the site and cancelled unpaid tickets, while Somerset County Council is preparing a fresh TRO.

But the force says it won't reimburse anyone fined for speeding on the road, despite a similar case in Dorset between 1997 and 2007 ending in Dorset Road Safety Partners refunding £1.8 million to drivers.

Avon and Somerset relied on a report by traffic engineer Ian Duncan, an adviser for Road Safety Support, a not-for-profit company providing services to the police and other organisations.

Mr Duncan, who concedes there was confusion over the name of the Fivehead road, said indications are "everyone knew what was being proposed and where" due to a pre-TRO consultation.

He added: "The plan to accompany the speed limit order clearly shows the start and finish points.

"If it's signed according to the plan/order and you're enforcing between those points, it would seem to me there's a valid 30mph speed limit in place.

"How can anyone be misled by the wording of a side road in the order when the signing on site is presumably clear enough?"

He added: "There is no duty to refund or reimburse settled cases."

Langport pensioner Ernest Lear, who was fined £100 and handed three points for driving over 30mph, was told by Avon and Somerset Police they would not reimburse him after a "specialist consultant" gave them "legal advice" that the 30mph limit was "valid and enforceable".

Andrew Fraser, who was also caught exceeding 30mph, says re-insuring his four cars following a £100 with three points is costing £550 in increased insurance premiums.

A police spokesman said: "Those whose offences had already been finalised, whether by attendance on courses, payment of fixed penalties, or by prosecution in the magistrates court, will not have their cases re-opened by the force."

Chris Waites, who uncovered the faulty TRO, said the "legal advice" was from a "pro-police PR agency" rather than a solicitor.

Mr Waites said: "I've run that advice past a specialist motoring solicitor, who has confirmed it's absolute nonsense.

"Similarly to the Taunton solicitor (quoted in the Gazette last month), their advice was, 'Take it to court'."