A BUSINESSMAN who was called out by police to remove a body during the day of a city centre bike race is fighting a bus lane fine.

Marshall Carr, who runs MGC Reparation Services, was asked to collect the body ahead of last year’s Pedal for Scotland event which saw streets cordoned off.

To make their way out of the city centre they had to drive their private ambulance in the bus lane in Cathedral Street.

However, they have been locked in a battle with Glasgow City Council who say the fine must be paid.

Mr Carr claims they were told to go along the bus lane by police. Now they have been fighting with the council for almost a year to have the fine thrown out.

The Carluke-based firm accept that they drove their private ambulance in the bus lane in Cathedral Street.

They were, however, initially called to the city centre by Police Scotland following the sudden death of a person on September 14, last year.

The firm was responsible for transferring the body to the city morgue.

Owner Mr Carr explained: “On the day that this happened, there was a bike race on and all the roads were closed.

“I was told to by the police to cut up this way as it was quicker to my destination because we had to get the body moved before spectators arrived. I did what I did.”

He added: “I don’t know the area and I was told where to go so I did.”

Mr Carr drove along Cathedral Street at the Buchanan Galleries to avoid the route of the Pedal for Scotland race which attracted 10,000 cyclists to the city.

The road, however, is off limit to all vehicles except cycles, taxis and buses - and there are warning signs at the start of the lane.

He subsequently received a notification of the fine from the local authority which advised that he must pay £30 because he drove on the bus lane.

He initially challenged this and was told to put his complaint in writing. He did this and the council still rejected the exceptional circumstances which forced Mr Carr to drive on the bus lane.

There has been numerous phones call and letters between Mr Carr and the council but ultimately his fine has been increased to £90 due to failure to pay within the timescales.

Now he has been threatened with a debt collector but he refuses to back down due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the incident.

Mr Carr said: “I have been told if I don’t pay it now it is going to the debt collector.

“I feel it is very disrespectful and I want to know who is making these decisions?

“I like to think I have common sense and if someone at the council saw this they would feel the same way.

“It just feels that they are just interested in getting money off of people.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “The owner of the vehicle needs to provide evidence from Police Scotland to us that their officers gave the driver permission to use the bus lane due to the nature of his journey. If we get this confirmation from the police then we would cancel the charge.”

Mr Carr, however, said that Police Scotland will only provide him with details of the day and time of an incident he was called to.

Mr Carr added: “It is ridiculous.

“This is the first time I have incurred any fine or charge in the 10 years I have been doing this job.”