MOTORISTS are being warned that thousands of extra cars will be on the road in the Horwich area as the Commonwealth Games gets into full swing.

Drivers will be heading to the area for the badminton at Bolton Arena or to park their cars for three key cycling events at Rivington.

The extra traffic will put a huge strain on busy roads, some of which will be closed for the bike events. The first of these is the time trial finals on Saturday, followed by the mountain bike competition on Monday and then the road race on Saturday, August 3.

Traffic could be even heavier this Monday when First North Western train drivers are due to go on strike.

Keith Howcroft, director of planning and communications for the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, said: "There's no doubt that it will be extremely busy around Horwich and Rivington and there may well be congestion.

"We believe there will be between 20,000 and 60,000 people wishing to see the cycling, depending on the weather, and many of those will travel by car.

"We are encouraging people to use public transport."

He said First North Western had agreed to put on replacement buses in the event of a rail strike.

A free shuttle bus service will run to Rivington from the Bolton Arena.

There will be 3,000 parking spaces around the Reebok Stadium and a park and ride service is being set up there to take cycling fans to the events at Rivington. The bus will pick up at Horwich Parkway rail station and train travellers can take half-hourly services from Bolton to Horwich as long as the line remains strike free.

Road diversions are being put in place in Horwich and Westhoughton during the cycling events and drivers travelling from Bolton to Chorley via Horwich will not be able to travel past the Crown roundabout. They will be diverted on to the A6 at Blackrod via Mason Street.

Road closures will be in place on each of the cycling days. For the time trials tomorrow and the road race on Saturday, August 3, Lever Park Avenue, Rivington Lane, Sheep House Lane, Dean Head Lane, Nickleton Brow, New Road, Bolton Road and Scholes Bank will be closed, together with some adjoining roads.

This Monday for the mountain biking, Douglas Copse, Green Lane, Quarry Climb, Georges Lane, Pikes Bottom, Leverclough, The Sting, Roynton Road, Snakebite Alley and Knowles Chase will be closed.Closures will run from 7am to 6.30pm.

The 127 bus from Bolton travels to Bolton Arena and is being timed to coincide with the start and finish of events.