PLANS have been drawn up to cope with the thousands of people expected to enjoy the final Commonwealth Games cycling event at Rivington tomorrow.

The women's and men's road race finals will take place from 8.30am to 6pm using the same route through Horwich and Rivington as the time trials last Saturday.

Extra park and ride sites have been laid on by transport bosses as organisers predict an increase on the 50,000 sport fans who travelled to Rivington for the mountain biking on Monday.

Tomorrow's road race will mean many of the roads around Horwich and Rivington will be closed from 7am.

People are being urged to use the shuttle buses which will run from Horwich and Adlington to ease potential congestion around the course.

Two park and ride sites will be available from 8am at the Reebok Stadium and British Aerospace on Lostock Way.

There will be a parking fee of £5 a vehicle which will entitle passengers to free return travel on the frequent shuttle bus services connecting the car parks with Rivington.

Passengers are advised to leave in plenty of time and have the correct fee ready to cut down on queueing.

Shuttle buses will also call at Horwich Parkway rail station. There is a standard return fare of £2 but holders of a bus or train ticket travel free.

There will also be two nearby park-and-walk sites close to the Bay Horse pub on Babylon Lane, Adlington, which is near the northern part of the road cycling events course

A free bus service will run every 15 minutes between Adlington rail station and the Bay Horse. The service starts at 8.45am at Adlington station.

The last service will return from Rivington at 5.41pm (note there will be a break in the service between 1pm and 2.15pm). Motorists will again face diversions in Horwich and Westhoughton.