A group of activists outraged at Kingston Council’s much-maligned Surbiton Crescent traffic scheme has taken to the street wearing novel t-shirts in a bid to stop oblivious drivers.

Hundreds of residents have complained about the signs in Surbiton Crescent

Residents Philip Morgan, Roger Marlow, and Bob Tyler have spent days protesting near the controversial traffic-calming measure, which has raked in more than £2m in fines since its introduction in November.

The protesters have been standing in front of the junction wearing yellow t-shirts decorated with "no entry" signs and waving at passing motorists to stop.

They say they stopped about 40 drivers from using the “plain stupidly-signed” cut through in just one day.

Campaigner Phillip Morgan, from Claygate, said: "I have organised this direct action in order to save motorists from receiving a penalty charge or "fine", as it is colloquially known, from Kingston Council.

“The signs at the very restriction are confusing and misleading - one's eye is drawn to the give way priority and arrows, and not the signs with the flying motorcycle above the car because they are too high.

“The advanced warning at the junctions with Maple Road, Claremont Road and Surbiton Crescent is plain stupid as the information is clearly incorrect.”

The protesters are not the first to rally against the scheme, with one motorist looking to launch a class action lawsuit against the council.

More than 28,000 fines - totalling £1,853,800 - were issued to drivers passing through Surbiton Crescent as of mid-January, with the figure likely to have risen.

Richard Grosvenor, of north Kingston is launching a class action lawsuit

Mr Marlow has appealed his fine for using the junction, with a hearing due this week.

He said: "I am not a ‘legal-weevil’ regarding the intricacies of road signs, just a 74-year-old with 55 years of driving, by and large, without incident.

"However, Kingston Council keep maintaining that the signage is legal and adequate, which I refute."

The road was closed to passing motorists as part of Kingston Council’s £33m mini-Holland cycling scheme. It made more than £500,000 in its first week.

The influx of fines led some residents to brand the scheme “diabolical”, with many criticising the signage for being “completely inadequate”.

Kingston Council will consult with Transport for London on whether to make the trial scheme permanent after assessing the results.

The council says on its website: “The signs installed meet the requirements set out by the Department for Transport.

“The height of the signs meet the requirements of statutory guidance and are at the appropriate level for vehicles and pedestrians. One sign was repositioned during the warning notice period to make the restrictions even clearer.”