FOUR passengers who failed to pay train fares have been hit with court bills totalling £1,300.

Ticket dodgers from Knutsford, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge were unable to produce a valid ticket or promise to pay notice when asked by an inspector.

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They all appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court on November 18.

Isaac Riley, 26, of Beechfield Road, Alderley Edge, was travelling between Alderley Edge and Manchester Piccadilly on April 6, this year, and failed to buy a £8.20 ticket.

Connor Ellison, 34, of Mottram Avenue, Handforth, Wilmslow, was on a journey from Manchester Piccadilly to Handforth, on April 24, this year, and was unable to prove she had paid for a £6.70 ticket.

Courtney Steadman, 24, of South Acre Drive, Wilmslow, was on his way from Handforth to Manchester Piccadilly on April 9, this year, when he could not produce a £6.70 ticket.

Joseph Ball, 22, of Moorcroft, Plumley, Knutsford, failed to pay for a £4.60 ticket on April 18, this year, when he travelled from Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly.

Ticket purchasing facilities are available at all the stations where these passengers boarded trains and the machines were in working order on the days in question, the court heard.

Each defendant was issued with a penalty fare notice by Northern Trains for either £20 or twice the single fare, whichever is greater.

Payment or an appeal must be made within 21 days and full instructions of where to send payment or appeal are clearly printed on the notice.

Two reminder letters were sent when no payment was received after two further requests.

No responses were received and the fares remain unpaid.

After listening to the evidence, magistrates found all four cases proved.

Each defendant was fined £220, ordered to pay £85 costs, £34 victim surcharge and pay their outstanding train fare as compensation.

Magistrates gave them until December 16 to pay the court penalties.