MOTORISTS are being advised to plan ahead and follow colour-coded routes as up to 200,00 people prepare to descend on the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Drivers are being asked to follow the AA signs provided as the world-famous air show gets under way at RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, for three days starting on Friday.

Today Fairford's park and view is open until 8pm for air show arrivals with tickets available on the gate for £15.

Gareth Price, the south west emergency planning officer for Highways England, said: “Traffic management is once again in place for safety and to keep disruption to a minimum, and we advise all road users to check our traffic and travel information channels, set off early and allow plenty of time.”

Organisers have provided options for leaving the car at home.

A shuttle bus will run from Swindon with tickets available on the day at the town’s bus station on production of a valid Air Tattoo ticket.

The service leaves for RAF Fairford between 6.45am and midday on all three days, returning between 2pm and 6.30pm on Friday and between 2pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

A limited service is also available from Cheltenham Park and Ride on Saturday and Sunday, though tickets can only be bought in advance, with free parking at the racecourse.

Numerous coach operators are also running transport to the air show.

Visitors by train are advised to travel to Swindon and use the shuttle bus, which is approximately a five-minute walk away at the station.
 

For visitors who do drive, traffic from the north east is advised to follow the red route, with other directions marked blue for the south and south east, brown for the west and south west and green for the north west.

Additional overflow routes also exist to relieve congestion on all the main routes.

Drivers using a sat nav are advised to use postcode GL7 4EG and when near to the airshow to follow the colour-coded signs instead of the sat nav.

Highways England is keen to make all motorists aware of increased traffic volumes on the A417 and A419, particularly around Cirencester and Cricklade, together with M5 junction 11A and M4 junction 15, on all three days.

The showground is open between 7.30am and 6.30pm on the Friday, and between 7.30am and 7.30pm on the Saturday and Sunday.

For more information visit www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/visitorinformation/travel or tune into Air Tattoo Live on 87.7 FM for traffic reports and airshow news.

Highways England provides live traffic information via its website at www.trafficengland.com