TOUR of Britain organisers have revealed which roads will be closed in Chard when the South-West leg of the race sets off from the town in September.

Crowshute Link will be closed from 5am-1pm on September 9 as cyclists go under starters orders.

Mitchell Gardens will also be shut, up to the junction of Summerfields Road.

Motorists heading up Fore Street will be diverted through Boden Street and Mill Lane, where they can rejoin the B316 towards Axminster.

However people living in The Maltings will be granted 'access only' from High Street and those entering or exiting Mitchell Gardens will do so via Summerfields Road.

Parking in the town will also be affected, with the Crowshute House car park and half of the Somerfields car park shut during the road closure.

There will also be no parking on High Street and the south side of Fore Street from 5am until the time the race departs.

Graham Bagley, Somerset County Council's Tour of Britain project manager, said: "At least 96 international professional cyclists will speed through Somerset at speeds of up to 40mph and we need to make sure that the event is safe for competitors and spectators alike.

"We are working with colleagues from highways and the Avon & Somerset Constabulary as well as the local community to minimise disruption to residents and businesses."

"The start areas at Crowshute Link and Mitchell Gardens will be closed from 5am to 1pm but for most of the route a rolling road closure system means that roads should only be closed for around 30 minutes while the riders pass through."

*For more information about the route through Chard follow the link below.

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