Police say safety will be centre stage during the Knutsford Royal May Day celebrations.

Fifteen roads in the central area of the town will be closed for up to seven hours on Saturday May 2nd and traffic diversions will be in place during the traditional parade which provides the main attraction of the day.

The procession will take about ninety minutes to pass round the town; starting from Church Hill at 2pm and finishing its journey on The Heath.

Derek Griffiths, the Cheshire Police Eastern Area Events Planning Officer said, “The diversions and restrictions are necessary because the parade uses a number of major roads, including the A50.

“A large number of officers will be policing the parade itself and the diversions. The key factor will be the safety of everyone; those in the parade; those watching, and anyone who happens to be in the town centre for other reasons.

“There will be traffic congestion in the area before, during and after the procession. We ask drivers to plan their routes; to be tolerant and to co-operate with the Police Officers to ensure that everything runs smoothly.”

The following roads will be closed (at police discretion) from 9am until 4pm : Church Hill, Adams Hill, Stanley Road, Princess Street, King Street, King Edward Road, Canute Place, Garden Road, Tatton Street, Ladies Mile, Tabley Road, Hollow Lane, Toft Road (from Princess Street to Adams Hill), Manchester Road (from Canute Place to Sugar Pit Lane) and Northwich Road (from Canute Place to Ladies Mile.) The following diversions will be implemented from 1.45pm. They will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.

Diversion between the A50 Manchester Road and the A5033 Northwich Road using Sugar Pit Lane and Ladies Mile.

Diversion between the A5033 Northwich Road and the A50 Toft Road using Stanley Road Diversion between the Mereheath Lane junction with King Street and the A50 Manchester Road Junction with Sugar Pit Lane using Garden Road and Manchester Road.

Diversion between the B5085 Mobberley Road and the A50 Toft Road using Goughs Lane and Chelford Road.