One in three British motorists is fined every year, a study found, as experts suggest automation technology has created a cash cow for councils and police.

As many as 12 million drivers receive a penalty notice each year, a study by the RAC Foundation found, the equivalent of one every 2.5 seconds.

It means almost a third of Britain's 40 million motorists are now receiving a penalty notice annually, bringing in more than £800 million in revenue.

This is in addition to the 1.2 million drivers who are now attending speed awareness courses instead of receiving a penalty and points on their licences.

The study, by Dr Adam Snow, a lecturer in criminology at Liverpool Hope University, found that eight million parking fines are issued by councils, while 2.5 million are penalised for using bus lanes and junction boxes.