MAJOR disruption will be caused along The Tour of Britain routes in the Sidbury and Sidford area, police have warned. Some 96 cyclists will be racing through the two villages next Friday (Saturday 18) as part of the seventh stage of the race. They will be

MAJOR disruption will be caused along The Tour of Britain routes in the Sidbury and Sidford area, police have warned.

Some 96 cyclists will be racing through the two villages next Friday (Saturday 18) as part of the seventh stage of the race.

They will be cycling from Honiton down the A375 over Sidbury Hill into Sidbury at approximately 12.32pm and then left through Sidford at around 12.35pm towards Seaton.

Police say the A375 from Honiton to Sidbury and the A3052 from Honiton to Seaton will be closed during the race and people are advised not to travel unless they have to.

Sergeant Andy Turner, of Sidmouth Police, said: "If you have to travel use alternative roads avoiding the A3052 and A375 however be mindful that a number of our roads lead to Honiton where there will be major disruption."

All residents living on the race route have been sent a letter advising them of parking restrictions and alternatives spaces off-road should be used.

Spectators have also been warned by police to "exercise common sense" as they watch the race.

Besides the cyclists, there will be 80 team support vehicles and 56 motorcycle outriders passing through and Sergeant Turner wants to make it clear that the public must remain on the pavements at all times.

He said: "We want as many people as possible to watch the race but we want them to do it safely."

The cyclists can reach speeds of 60mph downhill and the outriders will be travelling in front of the racers. It could take up to 40 minutes for all of the cyclists to pass through Sidbury and Sidford.

Sergeant Turner added: "It is inevitable there will be crashes between cyclists in races such as this but we don't want any crashes caused by members of the public.

"We are urging the public to stay out of the road for their own safety as if they were hit at such high speeds, it would result in serious injury or even death."

He also advised people not to congregate in the same area but to spread out and also to avoid standing at the bottom of Sidbury Hill and Sidford Cross.