First Leeds City Council failed to put a 40mph speed limit order in place that meant a stretch of the A65 in Yeadon has had no official speed limit for more than 15 years.

The 130 drivers caught in the last four years were fined £60 and given three licence points.

But when the council spotted the error and told the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, which has run the speed cameras since 2004, they failed to act on the information.

A spokesman for the council said: "After checking our records in March 2005, we discovered there was not a speed limit order for 40mph in place for this stretch of road. We have now approved the order and that will be commencing in the very near future."

Steve Thornton, chairman of the partnership, said top officials had only been told of the problem at the end of last year and enforcement on the route had immediately stopped.

He said a working group had been informed by the council several years ago, but for some reason hadn't passed the information on to those responsible for policy decisions and enforcement He added: "I can't explain why it didn't."

Mr Thornton said inquiries would continue into how such an error had occurred, saying: "If there was any wrongdoing, certainly disciplinary action would be taken."

The 130 motorists caught on cameras will get the points taken off their licences and a £60 refund.

In the years before the partnership took over speed cameras, the police were responsible. Lawyers reckon hundreds more motorists could have been punished and could win substantial payouts.

Andrew Thompson, of Andrew Thompson & Co Solicitors, Leeds, said: "I think it could affect hundreds of people."

Leeds man Ian Roberts lost his driving licence when the three points took him up to 12. He lost his job and his house. He plans to sue over the error.