ALL motorists who were fined for using a city centre bridge when it was controversially closed to traffic are to be offered refunds.

The new labour leader of City of York Council made his pledge within hours of being elected as his group leader.

Councillor Dafydd Williams said he was instructing officials to contact everyone who had been fined under the traffic restrictions for Lendal Bridge and offer them a refund.

More than 55,000 drivers were fined for crossing the bridge during the controversial six-month trial closure, which was abruptly lifted when an independent review found the traffic ban may have been unlawful.

Previously the authority had been offering refunds but motorists had to claim them for themselves.

Cllr Williams said: "The council got this wrong, and we are keen to make amends and move forward. We cannot put the Lendal Bridge issue to bed while people are still owed money."

He also pledged to freeze council tax rates in the city next year.

“We don't know if the Government are offering the money to do that but we're going to set to do it anyway,” he said.