ROADS are expected to grind to a halt as thousands of revellers descend for Reading Festival.

Motorists are being warned travelling by foot or bike during the festival could be quicker than driving.

Roads are expected to be at their worst on Wednesday and Thursday, August 24 and 25, and on Monday, August 29.

Tony Page, lead councillor for strategic transport, said: “As always, the Council work alongside organisers to help minimise delays as far as possible, but we strongly advise people to plan for the inevitable delays that will occur with 90,000 people attending Reading Festival this year.

“Using public transport is very often the best and quickest option during festival time.”

Reading Borough Council will close the Thames Path between 9pm and 6am from Thursday to Saturday, inclusive,between Scours Lane and the far end of Thames Side Promenade.

Richfield Avenue, between the junctions with Cardiff Road and Tessa Road will close from 10.30pm to 1am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to allow 20,000 day ticket holders to leave the Richfield Avenue venue.

Parking restrictions will be enforced around the venue with traffic wardens and police clamping down on rogue parking.

Festivalgoers can park at Mapledurham and Kings Meadows with Hills Meadow being used as a pick-up and drop-off site.

During Bank Holiday Monday, temporary traffic restrictions will be in place at the Napier Road and Vastern Road roundabout. The northbound closure of Cow Lane will be reinstated between 8am and 3pm.

A special hotline has been set up for people to offer comments during the event. The line will be answered between 9am and 5pm on Wednesday August 24, and then anytime from 9am on Thursday 25th until 3pm Monday 29th August.

The free phone number is 0333 003 5931.