A parish councillor facing a speeding fine claims he was being told to pay double the original penalty because of a postal error.

Alan Watts, who sits on Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council, admitted being 9mph over a 30mph speed limit in August last year.

He said: “I was expecting a statutory £60 fine and three penalty points, which was a shame as I’d never had any penalty points.”

The incident happened while he was driving through Thackley and Idle.

He said he received a letter saying he was speeding and followed the rules by filling out and returning the relevant form, pleading guilty to the offence.

He said: “I did not hear anything until a final reminder arrived from the police on September 10, saying I had failed to inform them who the driver was. I sent back this form, saying I had already filled in the previous form, together with a covering letter, pleading guilty to the offence.

“Then I heard nothing until a letter arrived on January 15 from Wakefield Magistrates’ Court saying I was to be summonsed.”

Mr Watts, of Clarendon Street, Haworth, added: “The court papers say I will have to pay £60 costs on top of whatever I get fined.”

A spokesman for Royal Mail said it was not possible to track a standard first class item of mail.